Your Church -

Helping the homeless

Night Shelter Practicalities

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

Matthew 25 : 35

Praise the Lord,  more and more ministries are letting the homeless sleep in their church halls over winter. 

Depending on the venue the  'guests'  can be treated like royalty,  enjoying new clean designer clothes and bedwear provided daily, gormet food and heated floors to aid a decent nights sleep.

Coming soon... advice on those extra health & safety steps your church can take to ensure a healthy, happy homeless night shelter with minimum difficulties.

Homeless Sleep in The Vatican too

The Vatican is also  likely to follow last year's hospitality gesture when, night time temperatures in Rome  dropped below freezing.

The Vatican say that around 30 people, Italians and others,  accepted their invitation to sleep inside St. Calixtus church, whose foundations were laid near a well where Pope Calixtus I was martyred in 222.

Inside the church, which is Vatican property, the homeless used sleeping bags or blankets. Since the stone interior of the church is cold itself, electric heaters have been placed on the floor.  A small  C of E Church in The Royal Docks London prefer to use air beds and duvet covers, and a new floor which complements the underfloor heating was paid for mainly by Crossrail, as a gesture to go some way to appologise for the extra building works and bad air quality the area had to endure. The beautiful clothes and some bed wear is regularly donated by The Queen Mother's Clothing Guild, which has proved an absolute godsend for numerous night shelters and other charities needing the service.

Pope Francis has stressed helping those on society's margins. The Vatican has also let homeless people get warm in some of its vehicles parked near St. Peter's Square at night.

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LIGHT INTERNATIONAL - whose staff have helped out at church night shelters - have tried out some products which could be especially helpful for maintaining the highest standards of hygiene for this years church homeless shelters around the world. 

One product that stood head and shoulders above the rest in our opinion was the Cimexine Sure Guard bug proof mattress encasement.

Silky soft, cool, breathable, bed bug proof fully-waterproof deep  Sure-Guard mattress protector that fully encases your mattresses and keeps it pristine. Keeps stains, soilage and odours off the mattress, is allergy-free, and keeps the bugs and dust mites away. Made from high-end, smooth, luxurious and absorbent fabric that is hygienic and comfortable, and features a clever inner-membrane that makes it fully waterproof, meaning that stains and liquids are kept permanently off the mattress, keeping it pristine underneath and significantly extending mattress life. On the outside the encasement is soft to the touch and features no seams or buttons, removing the main harbourage points for bed bugs. The fabric is bite-proof and the zip bug-proof. No more throwing mattresses out in the event of an outbreak or accidents. Can be machine washed and tumbled dried without losing any of its features.

Bespoke sizes available on request, email requirements to info@cimexine.com or call 01832 770483

**Keep visiting for more information and advice for this years night shelter...**

God Bless

Linda Whichelow

Editor

LIGHT INTERNATIONAL - Global Review of Christianity