Warwick students collect over 2,000 products for homeless shelters

Great Give Warwick, a student initiative to collect essential items for the homeless in Coventry and Leamington, have collected well over 2,000 products to distribute to shelters.

Acknowledging the upcoming holiday season, the drive took place at the end of November with the hopes of receiving donations of non-perishable food, essential toiletries, and clothing.

The total collection included 212 tins of food, 115 bags of rice and pasta, 35 toothbrushes, 450 sanitary products, 5 duvets and 59 pairs of gloves.

Shari Lawrence-Willis, who organised the event, said: “I honestly didn’t expect such a great outcome. The collection has enabled us to help so many local homeless people be fed, clean and warm this winter.

“Hopefully the legacy of Great Give Warwick will continue – it would be great to make this an annual initiative!”

Recipient shelters including the Leamington LWS Night Shelter, which was originally set up by Warwick students, as well as Langar Aid in Coventry and the Salvation Army Lifehouse.

Figures released by the Department for Communities and Local Government earlier this year showed that rates of homelessness in Coventry had grown by almost 50% in one year to three times above the national average.