SALVATION ARMY COLLECTS SLEEPING BAGS FOR HOMELESS AS WINTER ARRIVES IN SOMERSET
The Salvation Army branch in Street, Somerset, launched a campaign in November 2025 to collect clean, good quality sleeping bags for people experiencing homelessness as winter approaches.
The initiative was inspired by a comment from a foodbank visitor who spoke of the fear of spending a night in the cold with a damp, unusable sleeping bag.
Louise Melia, church leader at the Street Salvation Army, stated
"We were reminded that a dry night is a safe night, a dignified night, and a healthier night. A simple, dry sleeping bag can be the difference between a manageable situation and a desperate one, especially as we look towards the colder, wetter months."
Within days of launching the appeal, two donated sleeping bags were distributed to people in immediate need. Melia added
"We don't have a specific target number. Our goal is to meet the need, one person at a time. Every clean sleeping bag donated means one more person in our community can face the night with a little more comfort and dignity."
Donations of clean, good quality sleeping bags can be dropped off at The Salvation Army Hall on Goswell Road on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings, with other drop off times available by contacting the church directly. Monetary donations can also be made physically or online through the Street Corps JustGiving page.
The drive forms part of the Salvation Army's ongoing efforts to tackle homelessness in Street, working alongside Somerset County Council's homeless outreach and running essential services like the local foodbank. The Goswell Road church is also preparing kettle packs as part of its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, offering essential supplies to those moved into short term housing because of domestic violence, homelessness or housing emergencies.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
A damp sleeping bag. A cold night. Fear.
That's what inspired Christians to act.
The Salvation Army doesn't wait for government solutions or policy debates. They collect sleeping bags. They distribute them to people who need them. Within days, two people had warmth because Christians moved.
Western society has bureaucratized compassion into committees and funding cycles. Meanwhile, the Church feeds, clothes, and shelters those the world ignores.
This is Christianity in action. Not social programs. Not virtue signaling. Just quiet obedience to Christ's command to care for the least of these.
TAKE ACTION
1. Donate sleeping bags: Drop off clean sleeping bags at The Salvation Army Hall, Goswell Road, Street, Somerset on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings.
2. Give financially: Support the Street Salvation Army's homeless outreach at their JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tsa-community-support-000376.
3. Local Salvation Army: Find your nearest Salvation Army location and ask how you can support homeless ministry in your community at www.salvationarmy.org.uk.
