Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have chosen to raise money for the Rainbow Centre because despite its small size, this Christian charity does so much to help people. We give weekly by placing food in the 'orange bins' at church, but I had no idea what else it did and for a local charity, it was something I felt passionate to support. 

It is a Family Contact Centre, that currently supports nine families by providing a safe venue for children of separated families to spend time with one or both parents. A Breakfast Club that works all year round and caters for approximately 20 homeless people per morning and can provide a laundry service and shower facilities. It supports local people who are struggling with their finances and desperately needing assistance to regain control, so the Rainbow Centre created a Debt Advice and Mentor Scheme that has on average 20 clients. It is hard to imagine that these services plus more are all run by volunteers that can make a life-changing difference and provide a better future. 

Alongside the Rainbow Show in Cheriton, there is the Winter Shelter that works with Churches Together, Foodbank Collection that delivers emergency bags and last year provided 3,506 e-vouchers, 1,395 of which were for children. Food Pantry at Hythe Catholic Church has 127 members, and 100 are on the waiting list. Regular events are held at 101 Hythe Hight Street, Food Stop that operates three times a week and provides soup/sandwiches and support plus the Church Liaison Link. 

There are approximately 300 volunteers that help the Rainbow Centre provide these services and they are all supporting me every step of the way, so that precious aid can reach more people. No one should feel alone and isolated. The Rainbow Centre can provide that beacon of light and ray of hope. 

When I visited the Rainbow Centre and met some of the volunteers. They told me that we all have this expectation of what a homeless person looks like, i.e. scruffy and unkept, but someone who is homeless or drowning in debt and disbelief can look just like us. We may be walking down the street, or standing in a queue, and not be aware of the person standing near us who is silently crying out for help and support. These are the people who need to know the Rainbow Centre exists and we need to be the people that tell them the Rainbow Centre exists, because without that helping hand like can feel pretty empty. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.