A Dumfries and Galloway homeless support charity has been given a helping hand by dedicated Police Scotland Youth Volunteers.
The Dumfries-based young people took on a massive task to help those in need by helping SHAX – which was established in 2012 and is based at the Crichton – to support individuals and families, who have, or are facing crisis due to poverty or homelessness across the region.
SHAX also works to meet the increasing demand for its emergency starter packs which contain home essentials for those who find themselves homeless or in temporary accommodation.
And the Dumfries PSYV set themselves the task of appealing for donations, throughout December, of items needed for the starter packs as well as backpacks, stationery and toys for children who are also helped by the charity.
SHAX is largely self-funded through the sale of quality pre-loved furniture, household items and clothing. They therefore rely heavily on donations and on volunteer support to reduce their costs and to generate income.
As a social enterprise, every penny they make is reinvested in the organisation to ensure they can continue to offer this much-needed service in Dumfries and Galloway.
The Police Scotland Youth Volunteers were delighted to be able to personally deliver to SHAX the items handed in by generous Doonhamers to Loreburn Street Police Station.
And they spent time helping prepare some starter packs for vulnerable members of the community who are going into their first homes.
The young volunteers then generously gave their time in returning to the SHAX warehouse to help give it an end of year clean and to sort some of the areas ready for next year.
A spokesperson for SHAX said: “Thank you to the Dumfries Police Scotland Youth Volunteers. We are incredibly grateful for the amazing donations and the fantastic help over the past two weeks. Your dedication and willingness to dive in and get your hands dirty with making starter packs, cleaning, and sorting items have been invaluable.”
During Christmas 2023, the Dumfries PSYV filled more than 200 shoeboxes and hampers with gifts for those in need and delivered them to Summerhill Community Centre, Dumfries Veterans Garden, The Salvation Army and The River of Life Church.