Hannah and Benita brave the night to support homelessness in Hertfordshire
Imagine being homeless, sleeping outside in 1-degree weather with only cardboard and a thin blanket for warmth, after finishing your shift at work and still having no place to call home.
Occupational Therapist, Hannah Gordon and Ward Manager, Benita Sykes in Hertfordshire, experienced firsthand what it’s like to sleep outside in freezing conditions at Lockers Park in Hemel Hempstead, as part of an effort to raise awareness of homelessness.
Last month, Hannah and Benita participated in DENS: Helping rebuild lives, an independent charity working to help homeless people aged 18-65 years in the borough of Dacorum reclaim their lives. The money raised through the sponsored sleepout will help local people facing homelessness, poverty and social exclusion take the next positive steps in their lives.
To make the experience as realistic as possible, Hannah and Benita built a makeshift 'house' for the night using cardboard and had a foil blanket roof as a bed, rather than the more comfortable option of a tent and sleeping bag.
When asked why they decided to take part in the sleepout, Hannah shared: “We wanted experience what it may feel like to be homeless and those who are less fortunate than ourselves, especially at this time of the year when it is so wet and cold - we were determined to do it. We were fortunate that after the sleepout we could go back to our warm homes and utilise all the things we normally take for granted such as bed, hot shower, warm towels and dry clothes.”
“We did this for ourselves to raise awareness of the underprivileged and vulnerable, and to highlight the much-needed donations that support those who are already homeless or facing becoming homeless - many through circumstances outside of their control”, added Benita.
Hannah and Benita are incredibly grateful and would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported them with kind words of encouragement and generous donations. They not only met their target of £250 but surpassed it, raising a whopping £1,170 which has gone directly to DENS: Helping rebuild lives.
If you are feeling inspired by the impact Hannah and Benita have had on people in our community facing homelessness, it’s not too late to donate to Hannah’s and Benita’s challenge. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to DENS: Helping rebuild lives, so it's the most efficient way to give - saving time and cutting costs for the charity. JustGiving sends your donation straight to DENS: Helping rebuild lives and automatically reclaims gift aid if you are a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more.
