GIVING back to a charity that supported her during tough times, Bethany Hancock-Baxter from Launceston is hoping to once again collect items for homeless charity St Petrocs.

She last held a collection in 2019 and following the pandemic hopes to resume collecting to support the charity with the great work it does for the homeless.

Bethany explained: “I decided to hold my first collection in 2019 because before moving to Cornwall myself I was very nearly homeless. I relocated here after leaving a domestic relationship when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter (now four). I was fortunate to have my parents in the Launceston area who gave us a room temporarily but it did make me think if my family weren’t around or didn’t have room where I would’ve ended up, vulnerable being pregnant.

“I then took time to research what help there was for homelessness where I came across St Petrocs. I was amazed at the support they give to those less fortunate, and I really wanted to help as much as I could.

“I contacted St Petrocs who gratefully stated things they could benefit from and then I reached out to our local communities who where absolutely amazing and we got a whole van load together full of blankets, clothing, hats, scarfs, gloves, rucksacks and an additional extra myself and some donators did a few shoe boxes for Christmas. I then personally delivered the van load to St Petrocs’ main centre in Truro.”

Bethany had been overwhelmed by the support she received in the town, adding: “Again, Launceston community and surrounding areas really were a godsend with their donations and it wouldn’t of been so easy to gather donations without the people who helped.”

Bethany hopes this will become an annual occurrence with more events planned throughout the year: “The feeling of helping those in need especially during winter months made me feel particularly humble and decided it would be an annual thing myself and my family would try to do each year. I think it’s a really beneficial thing to do if you can to show children not everyone is fortunate to have family and friends to help them. My daughter now enjoys helping me put together shoe boxes and we hope to be able to help in other ways throughout the year also.”

This year’s donations are very much similar to last year and Bethany is hoping to collect adults clothing, boots or shoes, blankets and toiletries — and shoe boxes will be an added bonus.

Bethany added: “I aim to get together all donations by the end of November ready to deliver between then and December. I am offering to collect items on Sundays each week locally or I am happy for people to kindly drop them to me in North Hill, Launceston.”

To arrange collection email Bethany at [email protected]?

For more information about the support available from St Petrocs, visit www.stpetrocs.org.uk