Winter Is Coming for Medway

The majority of residents in our community worry about their financial situation as winter approaches. But we neglect to consider how the freezing and harsh streets pose the biggest threat to the lives of the most vulnerable members in our community; Those who lack the luxury of knowing when their next meal will be and who are unable to protect themselves from the harsh cold nights.

Medway’s small yet devoted organisation One Big Family helps the homeless and vulnerable “unhoused” persons in Kent and Yorkshire. They provide food packages, starter kits and necessary packs for the those in the Medway community who require help, clothing, toiletries, and other necessities. They provide a soup kitchen with both hot meals and cold/fresh on Sundays to which has been happening weekly for 6 years.

“We’ve Never missed a Sunday.” – Cofounder Elizabeth Shaw

However, as the temperatures decrease and the weather reaches extremes, One Big Family is worried with how they will cope with the huge influx of people showing up to the food banks.

Elizabeth Shaw mentioned that they are planning on running a “homeless emergency winter refugee” but is worried that they will not have enough volunteers to help. 

“We’ve seen an increase between 25 and 30% in the last three months. So, the cost-of-living crisis is hitting a number of people.”

With costs rising, less and less people can afford to buy the necessities they require, which subsequently leads to an increase of people looking for help from charities as such. 

Elizabeth says that over the last couple of months there has a been a huge spike in number of families and young people coming to the soup kitchen and coming to get food parcels from their project. 

Their projects include a 9-person home accommodation where people who are “unhoused” can come and feel at home where they find a sense of family and love. 

None of this would be possible without the incredible volunteers at One Big Family. This is why support and donations are so vital. 

Someone’s life could be changed by just one small gesture.

To Support One Big Family : https://www.helpingthehomeless.org.uk / 07865928174 / for social media follow @onebigfamilyHTH