Emmaus St Albans Companions impress Housing Minister
Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister, and MP for Welwyn Hatfield, visited our Emmaus Community at St Albans on a fact-finding mission on 15th December.
In the workshop Grant met with Companions busy making Christmas wreaths and others refurbishing furniture. French polishing items that have been donated brings tired wood back to life and the products are soon snapped up in our two shops.
Moving through the adjoining shop the Minister was surprised to hear that around 20 tonnes of furniture are taken in every month - stuff that would otherwise have gone to landfill yet which are often high quality resaleable goods.
Corporate social responsibility was demonstrated in action when in the accommodation area the minister saw work recently funded by Veolia Water of Hatfield in refurbishing tired bathrooms. Other Veolia support recently has been the donation of a fully branded transit van now used for our profitable recycling work.
The Minister marvelled at some of the skills shown by Companions. He was so impressed by the quality of leather work being done by Companion Billy that he assumed a Mary Portas role suggesting how the jackets should be better marketed. “They’re very New Bond Street but without the Prada label” said Billy.
After a group photo opportunity beside one of the new vans Grant chatted with Companions unloading a food collection from a local supermarket. Hearing how the nearly date limited fresh fruit and foods were collected by Emmaus and then delivered free 5 days a week to a group of local charities helping other homeless and needy families.
Although no stranger to supporting homeless issues the Minister was still impressed by an impromptu story from a Companion unloading food telling how his life has been turned around with the support given by both Emmaus and by fellow Companions.
Above: Grant Shapps MP clutching his Emmaus Christmas wreath, with the success story that is Emmaus quietly ringing in his ears.
Published on 20th December, 2011
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