Rap Interiors: Helping the Homeless at Christmas

Can You Help Us?

With Christmas being a magical time of year we wanted to support and make someone else’s Christmas one to remember.

Last year, we contacted several local charities in our area (The Salvation Army, Maidstone Day Centre and Lily Smith Hostel) to see how we could help with Christmas dinner for the homeless. In the end, we provided food and also presents for 95 people in Maidstone, Kent.

Much of the credit goes to Rap Interiors Design Director Julie Anderson for organising the collection. As word got out about the fundraiser, local village residents of Loose soon became very involved in dropping off food, mince pies, crackers and presents to Julie’s house. The Rap office then became a drop off centre before Julie shared the items fairly between the charities.

With Christmas 2019 soon approaching, we thought we would do it all again and raise funds to buy the necessary Christmas food items and also provide presents for the main event too.  These food items will then be shared out between our four chosen charities again this year, which includes The Salvation Army, Maidstone Day Centre, Hungry Hearts for the Homeless and Lily Smith House.

How You Can Help

There are four ways in which you can help …

1) Donate Via Our Just Giving Page

First, you can donate money via our Just Giving page here:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rap-xmas-dinner

Every little helps for this great cause and any small amount helps. We will be using the funds from the charity to buy all the charities listed enough turkeys and leftover monies will be split between the charities.

2) Donate Food and Presents to Our Maidstone Drop-off Point

We are also collecting much needed items via our Maidstone office drop-off point. The items we need include the following:

Christmas dinner food including any veg (potatoes, brussel sprouts, parsnips, carrots etc.), bacon, cheese, cheese crackers, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, yule logs, double cream, pigs in blankets, custard, gravy, stuffing and crackers.

Christmas presents including chocolates, male and female gloves, male and female socks, rucksacks, thermal mugs, sleeping bags, tents, tights, and male and female scarves.

*Please ensure all presents and clearly labelled male or female or wrapped in blue or pink paper.

Where to Find the Drop-Off Point

For all food and item donations we will have a drop-off zone at our head office:
Unit 6 Orchard Industrial Estate, Christen Way, Maidstone, Kent ME15 9YE.

3) Request a Collection

If your office will be making a large donation of food/items, we will collect it from your named address within a 10-mile radius of Maidstone.

4) Donate Items at a KCFG Networking Event

We are also collecting items at networking events such as the KCFG. Keep an eye out for a member of the Rap Interiors team and they will happily collect your donation.

Donation Deadline

We kindly ask that all donations are given by Monday 16^th December.

If you would like to find out more about how you can help further please contact our office on 01622 663232 or email refurb@rapinteriors.co.uk.

A Little About the Charities We Are Helping

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is a worldwide Christian church and registered charity, transforming lives for over 150 years. It has 750 community churches and social centres offering friendship, practical help and support to some of the most disadvantaged people in our communities.

The charity offers a drop-in service to people who are experiencing homelessness. Here, homeless people can receive a hot meal, shower, warm clothes, a safe place to sleep and additional support. You can find out more about The Salvation Army here.

How Can You Help?

Food required: 2-3 large turkeys, Yorkshire puddings, frozen roast potatoes, frozen broccoli, frozen cauliflower, pigs in blankets, stuffing and gravy. Last year we served Christmas pudding and custard for desert.

Male items required: 40 chocolates and gloves

Female items required: 15-20 gloves and chocolates

Maidstone Day Centre

Maidstone Day Centre for Homeless Care has been working for over 30 years to support homeless and vulnerable people. It offers a day centre for single homeless people, including those with alcohol, drug and mental health problems.

How Can You Help?

Food required: 4 medium turkeys, 10 bags of potatoes, 10 packs of Brussels sprouts, 10 packs of parsnips, 10 packs of carrots, 5 packs of chestnuts, 5 packs of streaky bacon, Selection of cheese for the cheese board, Christmas crackers, Christmas cake, 4 Yule logs, 4 double creams, 5 packs of pigs in blankets.

Male items required: Winter gloves and magic gloves, warm socks, rucksacks – all sizes, flasks and thermal mugs, sleeping bags and tents.

Female items required: Winter gloves and magic gloves, warm socks, rucksacks – all sizes, flasks and thermal mugs, sleeping bags and tents.

Hungry Hearts for the Homeless

Hungry Hearts for the Homeless is a non-profit charity aiming at helping local people within the community. It aims to provide a hot dinner and refreshments each Monday evening between 6-8pm in Knightrider Street, Maidstone.

How Can You Help?

General Items required: Toiletry bags filled with personal essentials.

Male items required: hats, gloves, tights, socks, scarves, rucksacks, flasks, thermal mugs, sleeping bags and tents.

Female Items required: hats, gloves, tights, socks, scarves, rucksacks, flasks, thermal mugs, sleeping bags and tents.

Kent Homeless Connect – Lily Smith House, Maidstone

Working with Porchlight to deliver Kent Homeless Connect, providing accommodation and support at Lily Smith House. Lily Smith House provides support and accommodation to vulnerable homeless adults aged 18 and over, with complex support needs.

How Can You Help?

Food required: Kent Homeless Connect welcome any Christmas food donations, including turkeys, potatoes and vegetables, gravy powder, a selection of cheeses, Christmas cake, Yule logs, custard, cream and all the trimmings.

It also would like toiletry bags filled with essentials, including the following:

Male items required: socks, hats, gloves, as well as rucksacks, flasks and thermal mugs, sleeping bags and tents.

Female items required: personal essentials, hats, gloves, tights, socks and scarves. Also rucksacks, flasks and thermal mugs, sleeping bags and tents.

PLEASE NOTE: Can all presents be clearly labelled male or female

As mentioned before, for all food and item donations we will have a drop off zone at our head office:
Unit 6 Orchard Industrial Estate, Christen Way, Maidstone, Kent ME15 9YE. If your office will be making a large donation of food/items, we will collect it from your named address.

Our Contributors So Far

Other contributors include Tilyard Autos Ltd., Ian Aylwin, Reg & Sue, Ergo Technical Services, Farley Electrical, ADSN Solutions and several anonymous.