Winter Coats for the Homeless

WelCom August 2017: Wellington’s Knights of Malta have donated 50 warm winters coats to the Compassion Soup Kitchen for homeless people, rough sleepers, refugees and others in need in Wellington, to use for winter.

The Knights purchased 50 coats at $50 each with money raised by Wellington parishioners. The long-padded coats with lots of pockets, velcro fasteners and a warm hood, can also be used as a blanket.

Sr Fina of the Home of Compassion said Soup Kitchen guests will welcome the coats over winter. ‘In early July, we had a young guest appear at the door in only a thin tee shirt. He was sleeping outside in an extremely cold Wellington southerly. These warm, dry coats are just what some of our guests need’.

Karen Holland, Compassion Soup Kitchen Kaiwhakahaere (Manager) said, ‘The coats have been used in the past as a garment, a blanket, a safe-storage pocket and a dry place to keep their Work and Income welfare benefit papers. Our guests really appreciate them.’

The ‘Coats for the Homeless’ programme organiser Peter Wood said the Knights thank the generous Wellington parishioners who donated money for the coats, and Sr Fina, Hillary Wilk and Karen Holland from the centre for distributing them.

‘As Knights of Malta in New Zealand, we are particularly concerned for the plight of our Lord’s sick and the poor. The coats are a warm garment as well as an expression of love and concern to our less fortunate brothers and sisters in Wellington,’ Peter Wood said.

The Sovereign Order of Malta has existed as a lay religious order of the Catholic Church since 1113 and is active in 120 countries caring for people in need through its medical, social and humanitarian works. Its broad social projects provide a constant support for some of society’s forgotten or excluded members.

Contact Peter Wood by email at peterdamianwood@icloud.com for more information about the Knights.

Greg Coyle

Dr Greg Coyle, Knights of Malta, Wellington.