A project to help homeless people that started in a Ewell bedroom could soon be hitting the road five nights a week – but the man behind the plan needs £4,000 to make it happen.
From November: West Ewell homeless helper crowdfunding for utility van to get project on the road
Anthony Burdett, 30, was inundated with ten times more donations than he expected for The Big Warm Up project he started from his home before Christmas.
He packed up shoeboxes filled with donated essential items to give out to those in need in central London, and now wants to expand the project to buy a multi-purpose van with a shower, a barber chair and more space in.
At the moment he is using his own car to travel all over London.
He has raised £600 of the £4,000 target so far.
Mr Burdett’s home in Hogsmill Way, Ewell, was crammed full of hats, scarfs and toiletries when he launched a shoebox appeal over Christmas.
He helped more than 1,500 people living out in the cold on the streets of Victoria, the West End, Vauxhall, Leicester Square, Regent Street.
Along with a team of about 200 volunteers, Mr Burdett, a team leader of maintenance at Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, now hands out warm clothing, food and drink to people in central London once a week.
But he wants to do more.
He said: “When we did the shoebox appeal, my house – including my room, my mum’s room, and my lodger’s room – were just covered with piles and piles of boxes.
“I think everyone was surprised.
“When I first started I thought it would be a one-off, but because we enjoyed it and because we got such a great response we have carried on doing it and it has grown and grown.”
He is hoping the project can become a registered charity.
To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/thebigwarmupbigvan
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