12,000 cups of tea for the homeless

Two Welshpool sisters who felt motivated during the snow storms to do something to help the homeless have smashed their targets, with a little help from the generous people of Welshpool.

Last month, we highlighted how Hope and Leyla Williams had launched an appeal during the cold snap to collect food and essentials for homeless people registered with the Shrewsbury Ark charity.

The response was astonishing with the girls being inundated with offers of help resulting in them receiving more almost  double their targets for many items, including tea bags.

“We have worked out that we could make 12,000 cups of tea!” said their father, David. “As a family we’d like to say a massive thank-you to all the wonderful people who have donated. We really have been overwhelmed by people’s kindness.”

The girls felt compelled to help after coming home to a warm house following a day's sledging in the freezing cold. Hope, nine, and Leyla, six, turned their attentions to the homeless during the perishing cold snaps that swept the country.

Ambitious targets were set, and smashed, as more and more donations turned up at their door.

“We are so proud of what we have done,” said Hope, after visiting the charity to deliver their goods. “To see the faces of the people light up and how pleased they were made it all worthwhile. They talked about how they will be able to have a cup of tea or coffee that night.

“They also said that they were so happy we did a kind thing and are grateful to everyone that generously donated. Without these kind people we would not have achieved our target.”

The targets, and what was actually raised
                        Target      Actual
Pot noodles     100           118
Biscuits           100           124
Tea bags          50             90
Coffee             50             50
Sugar               50             50