16 December 2010

helps homeless have a cracking time this Christmas

Emmaus Community gets a facelift for festive season

has brought some Christmas cheer to the homeless people supported by Emmaus Communities in St Albans as part of its Business in the Community pledge.

Over the last week, employees in Letchworth have spruced up the dining area with fresh paint, put up decorations and a Christmas tree brought through funds raised, and arranged for a new floor to be laid, donated by a local building firm. And, on 12th December, the management team cooked a slap up Christmas dinner for Emmaus Companions with the help of two catering students from North College. Over £1,000 has been raised by in support of the charity and this will be used to buy and install a new bathroom suite, something the St Albans community has desperately needed.

Emmaus Communities enable people to move on from homelessness, providing work and a home in a supportive, family environment. Companions, as residents are known, work full time collecting renovating and reselling donated furniture through the St Albans Emmaus shop. This work supports the Community financially and enables residents to develop skills and rebuild their self-respect.

"Through the Business in the Community pledge, we are not only giving our time and skills, but we are learning a great deal through our involvement in the charity and providing great opportunities for our people to develop their roles" says Lisa Hall, 's Customer Services Manager. "We are delighted to have raised over £1,000 through the generosity of some individuals, our brokers including Perfect Health, Lark, Medical Expenses Consulting, SMQ, Lorica and Willis Employee Benefits, as well as the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dunelm Mills."

"This has been a fantastic community effort and we would like to thank everyone involved. It is important to remember those less fortunate, especially at this time of year and I am delighted that has been able to play a key role in ensuring companions at Emmaus enjoy a very special Christmas."