Homeless but not Alone; Christmas at Devizes Opendoors

Ha, and there’s me whinging I’m working right up to Christmas eve; I’d just like to say, Santa hats off to Deputy Coordinator Angie Carpenter and the volunteers at Devizes Opendoors, who will be holding their annual three-course Christmas feast at lunchtime on Christmas Eve at the St Johns Parish Rooms. They will however, also be open on Christmas morning, serving breakfast.

Anyone who is vulnerable or homeless are very welcome to attend. I’ve seen the great work this team do, when I last visited for an article. I saw the delight on a young lady’s face when she chose a new hat from the selection of donated clothes, I witnessed only gratitude and appreciation from the attendees of the centre, and felt a satisfied community spirit. There was surplus food to take and what didn’t get used was given to the Food Bank. There were showers, clothes and even advise and assistance on hand for those who needed it.

It’s an essential time of year when our homeless and people in sheltered accommodation need all the help they can get. It’s cold and miserable out there, guys and gals; stick your head out your window and have a look, imagine sleeping rough in that, and then I hope you’ll join me in wishing Devizes Opendoors a very merry Christmas and wish them well for the New Year, for all the amazing work they do.

Angie would also like to thank the local branches of Morrisons, M&S, and Lidl for their continued food donations. While we were chatting, I pitched the possibility of Devizine staging an event to raise some money for Opendoors, so watch this space.

Until I get around to sorting something out like this, don’t forget tonight The Invitation Theatre Company have their Christmas Concert at St Johns Church, at 7pm. It’s just £6 a ticket and all proceeds go to Opendoors.

And if you cannot make this, how about the “Christmas whodunnit,” Murder on The Polar Express, written and read by the ever-amusing Mr Ian Diddams at The Vaults Micropub, Devizes on Tuesday (18th) at 7pm. It’s free but donations are encouraged on the night, which will go towards Opendoors, so here’s your chance to give a small gift to this great charity. Not forgetting our regular contributor Andy Fawthrop, and local poet Gail Foster, who appeared at our birthday bash, will also be offering some “seasonally inappropriate poetry.”