Volunteers: Helping The Homeless |
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Every Monday evening Rosemary Veal organises a meal run to take food and warm clothing to the homeless in Bournemouth. As the Salvation Army van arrives in St. Peter's Churchyard in the town centre, a crowd of fifty men and women cheer to greet them. |
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Soon, the hot food and drink are being given around, and bags of clothes are searched for sleeping bags and something warm to wear. No two nights are the same. |
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| Rosemary is a qualified nurse, so often dresses open wounds, and gives foot care. One young man held out his split-open hand. "Rosie, take a look in there," he said. "See if there's a tooth!" He was sure he had taken out another man's tooth in a fight! |
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Over the years, Rosie and the other team members have become good friends with the 'regulars', talking about mental health problems, lost businesses and broken relationships. |
| One girl had such badly swollen feet that her shoes would not fit. there were only men's shoes in the bags, and Rosie realised that only her own shoes would fit the girl. That night she drove home barefoot. |
Rosie is a committed Christian and a member of her local Catholic Church. the other volunteers belong to the Salvation Army. They all work together to show the love of Jesus to people sleeping rough in Bournemouth. |
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Find out more about the Salvation Army |
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Go back to 'Volunteers' |