As part of our ongoing support, volunteers from Go-Pak UK took to the streets of Bristol last week to assist the work of The Bristol Soup Run Trust.

Since 1986, the trust has been coordinating volunteers to provide a daily soup run. The homeless outreach service operates in Bristol city centre every night of the year, providing food, drink and other essential supplies, free of charge, to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. As well as further support by directing to other sources of help in Bristol.

Last Friday, four members from Go-Pak attended two locations in Bristol, assisting the trust by distributing warm tea, coffee and hot soup. Visitors are also given a bag with sandwiches, crisps, fruit and other food goods as well as any toiletries that were needed. This will vary depending on what is donated from other local businesses and shops.

Go-Pak have been supplying the trust with coffee cups, soup cups and meal trays since March this year and are proud to continue to support such a worthwhile cause. Jake Caseley, Senior Warehouse Manager at Go-Pak UK shared “It was great to go out on to the streets to not only see our donations being put to good use, but to meet and interact with the brilliant people we crossed paths with that night. The work the trust do is so important, and we look forward to continuing to help in the future”. This is the first evening a team from Go-Pak have assisted and this support is planned to continue in person at the end of every month, as well as providing ongoing stock items of drink and soup cups.

Sophie Mercer, long term volunteer and now Volunteer Coordinator at the trust said “It was great to be joined by the enthusiastic team from Go-Pak and we look forward to them becoming an ongoing part of Soup Run. The cups donated to us save us a huge amount of money each month – that money can now be used to buy food and other supplies. The Bristol Soup Run relies solely on donations to be able to run, so Go-Pak saving us money on cups makes a huge difference to us as a charity”. While some of the people served are homeless and will sleep outside that night, others may have accommodation. People arrive for many reasons: hunger, loneliness, companionship, advice. Whatever the reason, the trust explains that they are not there to judge. “Our job is to provide food, refreshment, a sleeping-bag, a pair of socks, toiletries, advice if needed and above all, a friendly smile and a willing ear”.

We look forward to continuing to support the wonderful volunteer work undertaken by The Bristol Soup Run Trust in the future.

Find out more at www.bristolsoupruntrust.org.uk