Do you believe you have the power to make a difference?
This week I attended the AGM for TeignAid.
Their incredible volunteers support homeless people and those at risk of homelessness in Teignmouth and Dawlish.
Often these people will be given emergency housing, but it’s in a different area.
They have to leave behind their community, adding loneliness to their struggles, and costing them a fortune travelling for medical appointments or to get their children to school - not to mention the the time it takes, making it impossible to work and improve things for themselves.
They may not have cooking facilities, making it expensive to eat - either in cafes and takeaways, or buying snack foods. Not only is this expensive, it is difficult to eat healthily too, exacerbating their health conditions.
Even with professional support, the system to find permanent, safe accommodation is difficult to navigate and a slow process.
There must be times when it feels impossible for clients, and for the TeignAid volunteers trying to help them.
That’s when this belief can be essential in reminding them to keep going and that they are making a difference, even when it feels like an uphill struggle.
TeignAid work closely with Teignmouth Mutual Aid Community Larder and Volunteering in Health to make a difference for some of the most vulnerable people in our community, who can often go unheard.
If you can spare an hour or two a week to support them in any way, please send them a message.
#volunteersweek
Interim Associate Managing Director at SFPeninsula Learning Center of Samuel Merritt Uiversity
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