Kindness and Friendship across the Globe from the Knitting Wizard of Oz

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(Free-Press-Release.com) February 27, 2010 -- A kind hearted North East ex pat living on the other side of the world has picked up her knitting needles to make sure that the homeless people of Tyneside are kept warm and healthy over the winter period.

Anne McEwan from Beaumaris, Melbourne in Australia has knitted dozens of woolly hats which have been warmly received by the People’s Kitchen in Newcastle. The thoughtful act of kindness came about when Anne was visiting her native Hartlepool where a chance visit to the local Women’s Institute brought her in contact with the People’s Kitchen.

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Kindness and Friendship across the Globe from the Knitting Wizard of Oz

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“There was a fascinating talk given about the tremendous work the charity does,” said Anne. “I was amazed at how caring and passionate everyone was about helping others less fortunate than themselves.”

Anne discovered that The People’s Kitchen was formed 25 years ago in Newcastle and has transformed thousands of disadvantaged people’s lives for the better by creating a culture of mutual trust and respect. She also discovered that it provides much needed friendship and food and fills a gap in the evenings when homeless people are at their most vulnerable.

When Anne returned home to the heat of Australia, she couldn’t stop dwelling on the desperate situation of the homeless people she had heard about especially those having to contend with the harsh North East winter. Being so far away and unable to visit the charity itself, she decided to help by knitting a large selection of woolly hats.
The hats have gone down very well with the People’s Kitchen’s clients including 54 year old Stan. Stan has been helped by the charity for the past four years and without their help he says that he would have found life as a homeless person very difficult to cope with. “It’s really good of this lady to knit hats for us even though she is on the other side of the world,” said Stan. “Knowing that someone is thinking about us from so far away gives us a lot of hope.”

As well as helping the People’s Kitchen, Anne has also turned her thoughts closer to home where the problems of homelessness are similar to those in Newcastle with people suffering from a lack of love, low self-esteem and disabling mental problems. Anne regularly donates to help the work of the homeless charities in Melbourne and is an avid fan of the inspirational Melbourne Street Choir also known as The Choir of Hard Knocks. Comprised entirely of homeless people, the choir has been the subject of a TV documentary series, released best selling CD’s and performed at the Sydney Opera House.

“I sent a copy of the choir’s DVD across to Tyneside to show them that music can be inspirational in bringing people together with one cause despite their own personal difficulties,” said Anne. “Perhaps The People's Kitchen may one day form a choir for the people of Newcastle? That would be great”

For six days of the week, fifty two weeks of the year, more than 650 people are looked after by the volunteers from the People’s Kitchen. One such volunteer is Maureen Hogg from Tynemouth who has been with the People’s Kitchen for more than seventeen years and it was her talk that originally inspired Anne to help.

“Anne is a really kind person that wants to make a difference for our clients,” said Maureen. “We rely on donations of money, food and warm clothes so that we can help to make people’s lives as normal as possible. Anne told me that had she still lived in the North East, she would have become a volunteer, now she’s helping from afar and it’s really appreciated by everyone.” Ends
Photo 1 shows Stan and volunteer Alex with the hats
Photo 2 shows Anne at home in Australia with a selection of hats


EDITORS NOTES

Anne McEwan went to Australia in 1984 to work for Billingham based Tioxide in their Melbourne plant.
She was born and bred in old Hartlepool and even now misses the North East. She returns home as often as she can. On her next visit she hopes to meet the volunteers and clients of the People’s Kitchen.

The People’s Kitchen – Fast Facts
 There are more than 150 volunteers from all walks of life who give their time to the People’s Kitchen every week.
 Many homeless people are under 25 years of age (approx 60% of those helped by the People’s Kitchen)

 A lot of homeless people are temporarily housed in hostels but there are still too many people sleeping rough on the streets
 Around 120 meals are issued every night that the People’s Kitchen is open. That equates to around 37,000 meals per year – just short of a million acts of kindness in the past 25 years.
 The volunteers prepare freshly cooked meals from 6.30 until 8.30pm and provide evening meals for between 120 -140 people on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
 At Trafalgar Street, late night supper is served on a Monday and Thursday from 8.45pm until 10.30pm and around 60 - 100 clients attend this session.

 On Sunday mornings, breakfast is served at Old Eldon Square at 8.30am and Westgate Road Cemetery from 10.00 a.m.
 Tons of good quality clothing is issued every year to ensure that no one freezes to death on the streets during winter
 The People’s Kitchen’s patrons are Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland and Rt Rev Martin Wharton The Bishop Newcastle and Rt rev Seamus Cunningham Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.

More information can be found online at http://www.highlightspr.co.uk

Australia     charity     depression     hats     homeless     kind     Newcastle     tyneside