Worcester News readers have donated £10,000 to the homeless in just two weeks following a campaign launched by the paper.
The News joined forces with a charity called the Maggs Day Centre in a campaign to open a night shelter from January to March for the homeless.
The paper’s Give Them Shelter campaign was inspired by the death of Nicholas Lewtschuk, who was found on a freezing winter night on the streets of Worcester.
The donations mean that more than 100 people can benefit from warmth, clothing and food for ten weeks, with the aim of finding them more permanent help.
News editor Stewart Gilbert praised his readers’ efforts: “We were absolutely astounded by how quickly our readers responded to what we saw as an important issue. Our readers are always quick to respond but this was exceptional.”
In the space of just 14 days, more than 300 donations were sent in.
Lewtschuk’s mother, who called the paper from her home in America’s Salt Lake City, joined the appeal – as did former homeless people.
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