How to help and support the work of NOAH
We continually work to accompany people on a journey to a better life, ideally from the streets to employment. It is expensive. Our annual expenditure is c£2.6m. We work very hard to find that money. We generate £600,000 ourselves through our trading activities and a significant amount of the remainder will come from services commissioned by Government and Local Authorities. But your support is vital in bridging the gap. Without your generosity we could not run our evening meal service, nor our emergency winter shelter; we could not provide our catering service that delivers very nutritional food through our cooked breakfast and lunch; a primary need for our people. Over the gamut of services that your kindness helps us to deliver:
£15 provides a change of clothing for one person
£20 feeds a person for a week
£175 helps 20 people in finding accommodation, get benefits advice and budgeting
£600 is the weekly cost to provide outreach support to 10 people
£3,500 is the weekly cost of providing the range of support services in the Welfare Centre.
Please click here to donate via JustGiving
Please click here to set up a standing order donation
Below are other ways to help our work:
When you donate goods, food or clothing to NOAH, you impact the lives of the poor and homeless in Bedfordshire. Each year, our donors and volunteers help NOAH provide more than 33,000 meals, 2,000 support sessions, 600 GP sessions on site, 500 haircuts, 400 counselling sessions, 600 dental appointments, find accommodation for 150 homeless people, accompany 500 people with drug or alcohol problems to specialist agencies, process 5 tons of laundry to men and women who live on the streets.
Our local community shops are in need of clothing and shoes (men’s are particularly needed), homewares, books, toys, DVDs, ornaments, decorative items and gifts.
As well as giving local people the opportunity to purchase affordable items, every £2.80 (above the shop operating costs) that we sell your item for, is a potential meal provided to a hungry person at our Welfare Centre.
There may be an occasion where we unfortunately must turn down an item we cannot legally accept in our shops, or for other operational reasons. Please click here for further information.
We no longer have our furniture store and cannot accept large items. We may be able to accept small household items on a case-by-case basis. Please call your local NOAH shop for more information.
Non-perishable, bulk, and staple items (dry and canned) are most welcome, but we would be delighted to receive fresh food, be it meat, poultry, fish or vegetables – as long as it is in date!
Clean, new and gently used clothing of all kinds are helpful. We are always in need of new underwear/t-shirts and socks, new and gently used jeans and shoes, and professional clothing for those looking for work or re-entering the workforce. In the winter, we are especially in need of warm outerwear, coats, jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves, and sleeping bags*
Items most welcome include razors, toothbrushes, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, hand cream, shampoo*. Many of service users will come through our doors each morning looking to have a wash, clean their teeth and have a shave. Up to 75 people a day will want to have a shower and have a change of clothing.
Typically, we are in need of new bath towels, hand towels, face cloths, twin-size sheets and blankets, standard-size pillows and pillowcases, and sleeping bags.
*This is subject to change depending on the needs of our clients. It’s always best to ring our Welfare Centre on 01582 728416, to find out what the current need is.
We gratefully accept food, toiletries and clothing donations seven days a week at 141 Park St, Luton LU1 3HG (Click here for directions ). It is always helpful if you can call ahead to ensure the items you intend to donate, are needed at this time. Whilst we appreciate all donations and support, our storage at Park Street is limited.
If you are considering a food or clothing drive at your Church, Company, Community Group, or School, please let us know. We will work with you to help launch a successful drive.
Shop Donations
For shop donations, you can visit any of the following drop off points:
Lewsey Farm Community Shop
Monday to Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Hightown Community Shop
Monday to Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Town Centre Community Shop
Monday to Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm
New: Store Support Centre
Unit 26-27, Portland Industrial Estate, Portland Road, Luton, LU4 8HA
Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm
By becoming a friend of NOAH, your contribution will enable our services to provide vital support to those most in need today and in the future.
Legacy
Please consider in your will our work in supporting people on the margins of society, the poorest of the poor. Thank you.
