Helping Hand Appeal Seeks £30,000

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30062, 21 February 1963, Page 22

Helping Hand Appeal Seeks £30,000

The men's social service centre run by toe Sarita Army at Addington is flatting down around the ears of the unwanted derelicts, akx>hottes, and former convicts housed there. They are not all deserving men, the Salvation Army readily admits, but no-one could deny that the work done by the centre is worthy of every support and encouragement—lf only for the fact that no-one else in Ohiristrifiurch win touch it. However. the buildiings are in such a poor state that some hove been condemned, and must be replaced if the work is to continue. Because of toae the social service oiuba of Christchurch have launched their first combined appeal, asking the public flor st least the £30,000 needed to rebuild and renovate. It will be called the Helping Hand appeal. The newest buttdmg at Addington is a hostel budt in 1921 end housing 30 to 40 of the 80 men who can be accommodated at the centre. But other buttdings go back to 1850, when they were built as immigration barracks. Thirty men are housed there. The immediate need is foe new accommodation for

tooae 30. New BMioensnrita toon wttl be foe bandt ntatmum to meat HaaUh Depurt-

meat requaremertts. A small industry la ooanetted wttfc the home, iawofv. mg toe coJlecUon and fcetang of waste paper. Some is bated and sent to toe Mwaur* paper mitts and foe rat io foredded flor packing. The work brings M some money, pays toe men arena pockvtmoney, and bait* to re* hatsttMte them. The Batevtom Army hat never had enough money toe capdM expenditure on toe paper store and wortahope and is now fleced with completely rebuilding them Ttotat expenditure St the centre ia edtsmafced at £lOO,OOO but if £30.000 can be raised toe Sateutom ’Army wil get a Government subsidy of £70.000 tor toe rat. The main work of the centre ie to provide a temporary refuge flor derelicts and men down on their luck. It provides ceeual and □uJuefli peTTudHAeUIL WWMrr, flood, bedding, and clothing. Hundreds of men bams gone to the home when retaaned flrorn prison. Next week toe ou ten a dubs—which halva 800 mambere among grab wiM approach Chrtutchiureh branase houeee flor money. A aofllertioo at toe etephMt race on Friday will also go to the appeal, and other efloeto will be made next month.