Amazon Hemel Hempstead donates £10,000 to help DENS support the homeless in Dacorum

DENS aims to be the first port of call for people in Dacorum who are facing homelessness
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A homeless charity in Dacorum has received a £10,000 donation from the Amazon fulfilment centre team in Hemel Hempstead to help it continue to support the local community.

The donation to DENS was made after a member of the Amazon team nominated the charity to benefit from a special COVID-19 support initiative as part Amazon’s programme to support the communities around its operating locations across the UK.

DENS aims to be the first port of call for people in Dacorum who are facing homelessness, poverty and social exclusion.

Amazon Hemel Hempstead donates £10,000 to help DENS support the homeless in DacorumAmazon Hemel Hempstead donates £10,000 to help DENS support the homeless in Dacorum
Amazon Hemel Hempstead donates £10,000 to help DENS support the homeless in Dacorum

The staff and volunteers support and empower the people they help to take the next positive step in their lives and the charity plans to use the donation to continue providing food and accommodation for those in need.

This is the second time the Amazon team has supported DENS, following a £4,000 donation made to the charity in 2020.

Mark Keeney, site leader at Amazon in Hemel Hempstead, said: “We’re proud to support organisations that are making a real difference in our community like DENS.

"Its staff and volunteers have been a great support to the people in Hertfordshire during COVID-19 and we want to lend a helping hand with this donation.”

Jenny McKenzie, who nominated DENS to receive the donation, said: “DENS is a charity close to my heart and I am pleased that it has been chosen to receive this donation from Amazon.

"I hope that it gives the staff and volunteers a boost during what continues to be a challenging year.”

Fran Martin, Head of Fundraising and Communications at DENS, said: “In the last year, the demand for our frontline services has never been so high. Amazon’s support is hugely appreciated and will enable us to meet this high demand and continue to help rebuild the lives of vulnerable people in our community at our Foodbank, Day Centre and 44-bed Hostel.

"Thank you to Mark, Jenny and the team in Hemel Hempstead for your very generous donations which will make a huge difference to DENS.”

Community donations are one of a number of ways in which Amazon is supporting communities across the country during the pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic, Amazon has teamed up with charity partner Magic Breakfast to help deliver more than four million healthy breakfasts to disadvantaged children around the UK.

The company has also provided students with free online STEM resources and supported virtual classrooms with no-cost resources.