An appeal is officially launched this week as a community rallies round to help the homeless.

The Waterloo News Community Facebook page team in Ashton have teamed up with Emma Jones at Perry Jones Funeral Services in the town to boost the appeal.

Dave Howarth, of Waterloo News, explained that they have six collection points across the area where members of the local community can donate food items. These are:

• Tesco Express, Oldham Road
• The Clock Shop, Newmarket Road
• Perry Jones Funeral Services, Oldham Road
• Crowhill Premier, Crowhill Road
• Go Local Extra, Oldham Road
• Limehurstminimarket GoLocal, Oldham Road

These in turn are delivered to Pauline Town and the Tameside Stronger Together team, based at the Station Pub in Ashton, to be distributed to help the homeless and those most in need.

However, Dave said the ‘spiralling cost of living crisis’ is now really starting to bite, and donations are considerably down.

To help, Emma will be opening her business at 300 Oldham Road, Ashton, as part of a ‘foodbank drive’ on Saturday 2 July from 11am to 1pm for donations only.

Specific items only can be accepted including pasta, rice, long-life cupboard fillers, soup, biscuits on, tea bags, coffee, sugar, long-life milk and tinned goods. Toiletries including deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and tooth brushes are also needed.  

Businesses that would like to become other donation points can also help and can contact the Waterloo News team through their Facebook page.

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