Archbishop Nichols welcomes Vinnie Packs for street homeless

Archbishop Nichols with John Mason and Siobhan Garibaldi from SVP

The Archbishop of Westminster, The Most Rev Vincent Nichols has given his support to a practical scheme launched by the St Vincent de Paul Society, to make the lives of people sleeping rough on the streets of London a little easier this winter.

The 'Vinnie Pack' contains a woolly hat, gloves, socks, toiletries, thermal blanket and information booklet. At £3, the packs can be bought by people who would like to give them to people on the street. It is also possible to sponsor packs which will then be distributed to street homeless by the SVP.

After meeting SVP organisers John Mason and Siobhan Garibaldi, Archbishop Nichols said: “This is an excellent idea. I know that sometimes people are reluctant to make a donation to homeless street sleepers. I am sure they will welcome being able to give a ‘Vinnie Pack’ as a way of helping people living on the streets of London. I thank the St Vincent de Paul Society for this imaginative initiative.”

Siobhan Garibaldi, Vice President of the Diocese of Westminster’s St Vincent de Paul Society, explained that the contents of the pack was decided after talking with clients on some of the soup runs they organise around the capital.

She said the SVP has already distributed several hundred packs to parishes and the feedback from clients who've received them has been very positive.

Siobhan said: “When ‘Vinnie Packs’ were distributed on one of our soup runs last week, homeless people took what they needed and passed surplus items to fellow rough sleepers. That was an amazing example of how those with almost nothing realized the importance of sharing material goods with others in need. I hope that others more fortunate will be able to follow their example by buying or sponsoring a ‘Vinnie Pack’ or by providing other material or practical support to the many hundreds of homeless people sleeping rough on the streets of London."

Vinnie Packs can be bought from churches, bookshops or by post from the St Vincent de Paul Society. If you would like to order some Vinnie Packs or sponsor a pack that could be handed to a rough sleeper, please send a donation to: SVP, 46 Brunswick Court, Regency Street, London SW1P 4AE.

Or contact Siobhan Garibaldi on 07929 490090 e-mail: siobhan.garibaldi@ntlworld.com

To see more pictures of Archbishop Nichols with Siobhan Garibaldi and John Mason from the SVP, with the packs, go to: www.flickr.com/photos/catholicwestminster/sets/72157628306545931/