Volunteers making a difference in York (From York Press)

Volunteers making a difference in York

9:01am Thursday 25th October 2012 in News By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

A TEAM of York volunteers rolled up their sleeves and helped feed homeless people as part of a national drive to make a difference.

The helpers from York CVS joined the regular volunteers at Carecent, a drop-in-centre at Central Methodist Church in St Saviourgate, that provides breakfast for homeless, unemployed and disadvantaged members of the community, to promote the importance of the UK’s annual volunteering mission – Make A Difference Day – which takes place on Saturday.

Liz Hamilton, volunteer centre manager at York CVS, who was involved yesterday, said: “It was great. We had a brilliant reception from all the men and women who came in and hopefully we did something useful and helpful.

“Volunteers are massively helpful, some charities rely entirely on them and in other organisations they do the extras that otherwise would not get done.

“At a place like Carecent many of the people who come off the street get a friendly reception by volunteers who have the time to chat – this can make a huge difference to someone’s start of the day.”

Carecent manager Nicky Gladstone said: “Our volunteers do more than serve breakfast.

“They are all ready to listen, and offer help and advice.

“We run entirely on donations of food, clothing, toiletries and money. But we also need people to donate their time.”

National Make A Difference Day is on Saturday, but activities are taking place until November 3.