SVP prepares 10,000 cold weather survival packs for street homeless

Archbishop Nichols with first Vinnie Packs

As temperatures begin to plummet, the St Vincent de Paul Society, (SVP) has bought enough stock to provide 10,000 Vinnie Packs for distribution to people living on the streets.

Each pack contains cold weather essentials including a hat, gloves and socks which are all thermal, an emergency foil blanket, full sized tube of toothpaste, toothbrush, pen and information card.

In London alone, 120 homeless people died in the past year. Their names were read out at a moving service at St Martin-in the- Fields Church, Trafalgar Square on 7 November. (See ICN 10 November 2013 -London: Service commemorates homeless people who died in last year www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=23573 )

SVP spokeswoman Siobhan Garibaldi, said: "Hypothermia is a real danger for people on the streets, but at least with these packs, people will be able to keep a bit warmer. The information card gives details of where people can go for more advice and support. "

The SVP has already distributed more than 1,000 Vinnie Packs this year through their soup runs and projects. Another 1,000 packs will go out within the next couple of weeks.

In addition to London, stock has been sent to locations from Cornwall to Newcastle.

In order to ensure that the scheme keeps going and that no one has to be turned away, the charity are asking the public to sponsor Vinnie Packs at a suggested amount of £3 per pack. Cheques made out to “SVP” can be sent to Vinnie Packs, PO Box 72264, London SW1P 9EZ. The St Vincent de Paul, and more importantly the recipients of the Vinnie Packs, are very grateful for the support they receive.

For more information e-mail: VinniePacks@hotmail.com