You don't have to wait for Christmas or Year 2000 to think about helping others. Ian Howard of The Filling Station writes.

With the pleasant summer temperatures and holidays still with us, winter seems a long way off. Homelessness is an issue that only comes into the public focus around Christmas time.

However, it is an all year round issue. Life on the street is never pleasant or desirable, even on sultry summer nights.

The Filling Station is a soup kitchen that has been operating in Swindon since May 1993. Since then we have been distributing soup, sandwiches and other consumables every Thursday evening and more recently on Mondays. We are supported by over fifteen churches from across Swindon, as well as other groups and individuals.

Regardless of the time of the year people are forced to sleep in car parks, the bus station, at the rear of shops and other hidden places that during the day are familiar to all who shop in central Swindon.

We do not condemn any that we meet despite their lifestyle. It is too easy to say, "it's all their fault," or "why don't they pull themselves together?"

That was my opinion before I began to work with this easily identifiable and easily condemnable group. The homeless community of Swindon have taught me more about what it is to be human than any other group I have met. They are just like you and me; they are all someone's son or daughter. At the back of my mind is the hope that someone would care for my children if they fell into a lifestyle like this, without comdemning them.

The Filling Station, a registered charity, has many needs, such as:

1 Teams of sandwich makers (at present each group makes them three times a year)

2 People to join the soup making rota (currently once every seven weeks)

3 Donations of tins and packets of food, toiletries etc. that we can give out to the clients. This can be done by individuals or by community groups having a collection box at their meetings which can be delivered when full.

4 People to donate and collect suitable clothing

5 Volunteers to help us sort clothing, provisions etc. or to help on Thursday evenings.

6 Donations of money large or small!

If you feel you can help please contact (01793) 881757.