St Helens carer aiming to 'bring a smile' with homeless project

After spending much of her childhood in and out of care, and witnessing her mum struggle with homelessness and addiction, Abbey Swiderek has long wanted to help the homeless at Christmastime.

Wanting to bring a smile to people's faces, keep those on the streets warm, and let them know people are thinking about them, Abbey has decided to deliver hand-crafted hampers to the homeless in the lead up to Christmas, and after publicising her idea online, she has been blown away by the response.

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Abbey said her mum has struggled with homelessness and addiction (Image: Abbey Swiderek) Concerned about the dark and cold nights that homeless people will face this winter, Abbey took to social media to ask the people of St Helens if they could donate any spare clothes or essentials to her project.

Asking for spare coats, hats, scarfs, gloves, and blankets, Abbey's post has attracted hundreds of responses and countless messages from people who have offered to help.

And as Abbey is painfully aware of the difficulties people face on the streets, the 20-year-old will also add some snacks, books, and colouring books to her hand-crafted hampers, to let homeless people know that there are people thinking about them.

Abbey has been blown away by the response to her homeless project (Image: Abbey Swiderek) Abbey, from Blackbrook, said: "Homelessness is an issue that is really close to my heart because of my mum and her struggles with this and addiction.

"So the idea of helping the homeless has played on my mind for a long time, and I thought I could really make a difference by adding to the work of other organisations.

"I expected a handful of responses to the post but I can't believe the amount of messages that I have had from people offering to help.

"Sometimes this town can get a bad reputation but this response has been amazing and it means so much to me, it's really heart warming to see."

Abbey said the project 'means so much' after her mum's struggles and her experience in care (Image: Abbey Swiderek) With people already dropping donations off at Abbey's house, people from all across the borough have contacted her about items that the 20-year-old can collect.

Over the next few weeks, Abbey will collect as much items as possible and hand deliver the hampers to people on the streets in and around St Helens, while also dropping them off at organisations such as the Hope Centre and Hope House.

"I know times can be tough with money so that's why I have asked for old clothes that people are not going to wear any more", Abbey added.

"Things that feel like trash to us might be someone else's treasure and I know how much things like this will make people's day and put a smile on their face.

"I have been in and out of care for my whole life and Christmas hasn't always been the best time for me, so I want to do something to make sure other people's Christmases are special, and they know someone is thinking about them.

"My present is knowing that people are going to wake up with something special on Christmas Day and it will make my Christmas if I can help as many people as possible."

Abbey can be contacted regarding donations at abbeyswiderek0904@outlook.com