Homeless charity given Christmas card boost

Jan 8 2009 by Debbie Spalding, West Lothian Courier

A CHARITY that helps provide emergency accommodation received a £1000 Christmas gift.

The Open Door Accommodation Project offers emergency hostel and supported accommodation as well as tenancy support for young people who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness within the authority.

During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Christine Calder, business manager with West Lothian Council, organised a Christmas card campaign where any member of the public or council employee could go on to the local authority’s website and make a donation instead of sending Christmas cards.

Well over £1000 was raised and the money went towards providing hampers, gifts and a games console for the young people to use not only at Christmas but throughout the year as well.

Allan Kidd, director at Open Door said: “This campaign has been wonderful, Christine and her team have worked tirelessly to make sure that Christmas has been made as special as it could be for our young people.

“I want to thank all council employees and members of the public who gave so willingly to the campaign.

“I also want to thank Christine and her team for the hard work they put in to make sure that the campaign was a great success.”