Suffolk cafe to provide free dinner to people struggling this winter
Sam's Coffee House is part of the Thin Ice community response program that tackles winter homelessness in East Suffolk.
A Cafe in Suffolk will be providing a free meal and hot drink every night to people who find themselves struggling financially or without homes this winter.
Sam's Coffee House in Lowestoft, is getting involved as part of the Thin Ice community response project that aims to address winter homelessness in the region.
Simon Baldry is from Access Community Trust, which runs the Cafe.
He says: "We wanted to ensure that vulnerable people, over the winter period from November to February, had a provision where they could come into the warmth and receive a hot drink and a complimentary hot meal.
"It need not just be a homeless people, it could be a struggling family, an older couple or an individual who is finding it difficult to afford their bills, anybody and we urge them to come in to Sam's. Let us know its part of Thin Ice and we'll provide you with a hot meal and drink, in the warmth, no questions asked."
Many experts have observed that this winter could pose a lot of difficulties for families, as a result of cuts to Universal credit and rising costs of food and energy.
Mr. Baldry says all these could have a snowball effect that means more people will need their services: " The people that generally come to us and seek support, at the moment are struggling, and we can see that it's going to be worse as the months go on.
"There are people out there who will have to choose between eating or heating their homes. We want to help people by removing that burden."
For those who are interested in supporting the cause and helping Sam's Coffee House, Mr. Baldry says they can do so in a number of ways. They can either donate money directly to cafe by sending a text message to a specific number. They can also pre-buy a vouchered meal and give to someone who may need it, or leave it on the Gift tree outside their cafe, for those that need it to come and claim it.
"We just want everyone in the community to be mindful of people around them and the people less fortunate than them. If they can contribute in anyway to give these people hope through what is going to be a very difficult winter", he adds.