Hand on Heart donates essential packs to help the homeless in Hemel Hempstead

Hand on Heart (HoH), a homeless project, has delivered essential packs to help people living on the streets in Hemel Hempstead.

The homeless organisation has now completed a summer campaign to provide essential provisions to the homeless, vulnerable and underprivileged people.

In total, 850 essential packs were assembled by 35 families, each pack contained hygienic supplies, toiletries, PPE, oral hygiene kits and new clothes.

The packs were distributed to people who are homeless by HoH volunteers at 9 locations in Hertfordshire, including DENS, in Hemel Hempstead.

DENS houses, supports and empowers vulnerable single homeless people, and others in crisis, to transform their lives.

Afzal Pradhan BEM, Hand on Heart Project Leader, said: “Hand on Heart are extremely grateful to all the donors who have donated to the fundraising page.

"We just could not operate without their support. In addition, we’d like to thank Beta Charitable Trust and all those who have donated essential items such as the toiletries, PPE, oral hygiene kits, snack and water.

"The feedback we have received from our guests (homeless) has been overwhelming with each guest saying the items they receive are precisely what they require.”

Operating from Watford, Hand on Heart with support from dedicated volunteers, normally provides winter warmers packs to rough sleepers in London.

However, during the pandemic, HoH has collaborated with other charities and provided support during the lockdown.

The summer campaign was the ninth Covid-19 response project in 4 months that has helped the homeless, vulnerable and NHS key workers.

During this time, over 2000 essential packs have been distributed to the homeless, 8000 tinned food items have been provided to local food banks and 20 laptops, tablets and printers given to deprived families during homeschooling.

HoH has also assembled and provided 1200 lunch packs to Key NHS frontline workers at 6 hospitals .

For the homeless, HoH has identified that summer months are equally testing as they are during the cold winter.

During the pandemic, Hand on Heart has seen an upsurge in numbers of people needing assistance.

In addition to the homeless, the elderly and families with young children are coming forward to ask for help.

Whether they are from areas of disadvantage backgrounds or people who are socially excluded, the bottom line is that there has been an increase of people needing support due to the pandemic.

HoH hopes the items provided in the packs will go some way to offer a little humanity and dignity during these most difficult and unprecedented times.

For more information about Hand on Heart visit: www.facebook.com/handonheartwwp.