RESIDENTS are being urged to donate backpacks full of winter supplies as part of a scheme to help the homeless survive the cold winter months.

While many charities and organisations across Somerset are busy preparing their shoebox appeals for poverty-stricken children around the world, Hands of Change is doing something different to spread festive cheer in Burnham-on-Sea.

The group is appealing for backpacks full of basic essentials – from gloves to toiletries – by the end of November which will be delivered to rough sleepers over the Christmas period.

Kay Barrett, from community group Hands of Change, said the bags will be a “lifeline” to homeless people during the cold months and is appealing for as many residents to get involved as possible.

“We are hoping people will fill a bag with basic items including hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, food, water, toiletries and torches which we will give to homeless people in the area,” she said.

“We have done shoebox appeals in the past and they are easier for us to store but when we take it out on the streets sometimes the homeless haven’t got any way to transport the items.

“By putting the items in a backpack, they will stay dry and it will be easy for people to move around.

And people on the streets will not have to eat everything they get all in one go – it will mean they will have somewhere to store food.”

The community group, which is based in Burnham, has already launched a number of projects in the town to help vulnerable people, including a food delivery scheme which delivers surplus food from Greggs and Lidl to residents.

A social group for people with autism has also started.

Kay said by starting the appeal early the group hopes it will have more than 30 bags to give out in December.

“In our first year we managed to get about 11 bags together – last year we did 34 and so this year we hope to beat that and help as many people as possible,” Kay said.

“We really don’t mind how many bags we get, it’s just nice that people want to take part and give something back to the vulnerable in the community.”

To donate a bag call Kay Barrett on 07713232588.