A HOMELESS charity has restarted its winter out-reach project to donate food to the homeless.

Blackburn-based Community Spirit is now looking for donations to help fund their nightly work.

A team of volunteers, led by chairman Neil Mistry, go out almost every night and hand out food, clothing and other necessities to those who sleep on Blackburn’s streets during the winter.

The charity has teamed up with Winfield Outdoors, from Haslingden, which has donated £2,500 for the hire of a large van.

When the company’s secretary, Janine Winfield, heard that people who sleep rough in Blackburn relied on the Community Spirit out-reach team for basic supplies she immediately got in touch with trustee, Debbie Miller, to help.

Mrs Winfield said: “Myself and other volunteers run ‘The shoe box buddies’ campaign. Every year we collect thousands of shoe boxes, filled with essentials, that generous people drop off to us and we then donate to various charities, including Community Spirit and this is how I became involved.

“It’s heart-warming to see the way volunteers give their time, both in the weekly street cafe and by outreaching on the streets to help those sleeping rough and who are in need of a hot meal and warm clothing.

“When I learned that Community Spirit were trying to raise money to hire a large van to accommodate everything necessary for the colder months, I knew we had to help by offering to pay for the hire of a van for the duration of winter.

“Along with this we will be donating warm clothing and I intend to look at what else our company can do to help Community Spirit.”

The charity was set up five years ago to help feed the homeless and hungry in Blackburn and operates from Wesley Hall in the town centre every Tuesday evening, providing up to 100 meals each week.

Mr Mistry said: “We are blown away with the amazing donation of £2,500 from Winfield Outdoors, along with the support from Intack Self Drive.

“And, thanks to the wonderful work of Brand-It NW Limited, the Community Spirit van will be easily spotted by street homeless people across Blackburn with Darwen. Anyone who can help with donations should email neilcurrie92@gmail.com.”