While Surrey’s generosity being praised, the director of a charity that helps the homeless is urging people not to drop items off along 135A Street.
Why? It’s making a mess, said Michael Musgrove, director of Surrey Urban Mission Society (SUMS).
“Rather than drop off on 135A Street, contact Nighshift, Lookout (emergency Gateway shelter) or SUMS and do donations there,” he said.
“We will distribute it based on need. We will get it into the hands of people.”
Musgrove said the problem is that “clothing, blankets, food, scarves, toques, all these things are being dropped off and it’s wonderful that people have the heart to do this, but it actually ends up becoming clutter on 135A Street.”
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“Driving down the street you can see donations as you go down, especially in field right beside the church,” he added. “It creates quite a mess and we’re trying to keep that area really clean.”
Musgrove said at Wednesday morning’s Surrey Outreach Team meeting, there was discussion about creating a donation bin along 135A Street, which would be distributed to Lookout, Nightshift and SUMS for distribution.
Musgrove acknowledged that some want a more hands-on donation experience and he invited them to come down to help serve a meal at the mission.
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Musgrove acknowledged that some want a more hands-on donation experience and he invited them to come down to help serve a meal at the mission.
For more information, email sums@telus.net or call SUMS at 604-581-5172. The mission is located at 10776 King George Blvd.
