Warm-Hearted Café Owner Calls For Blanket Donations

By Dan Hutton on May 11, 2016 in

Winter is only one month away and the overnight temperatures are already on the wane in our little corner of the world.

While most of us are fortunate enough to be able to pull the trackies and ugg boots out of storage, dust off the gas heater and switch over to the winter doona, achieving warmth is no walk in the park for those living on the streets.

With the goal of helping those in need stay warm this winter, local businessman Dave Martin is calling on Eastern Suburbs locals to drop blankets, doonas, jackets, jumpers and warm socks into his Coogee Bay Road cafe, Courtyard, which will be donated to the homeless via the good burghers at Bondi’s Chapel by the Sea.

“It’s going to be a cold winter and I hate seeing people in need suffering, particularly when some relatively small actions on behalf of the people who are lucky enough to call this area home could do something to relieve that suffering,” Mr Martin said.

Mr Martin credited his role as a father as being a big inspiration behind the campaign.

“Since becoming a dad a few years ago I’ve become far more compassionate, and with that I’ve felt really passionate about giving something back,” he said.

“Recently my son Henry saw a homeless guy on the street and he said to me, ‘Daddy, that man looks hungry; can we buy him something to eat?’ We bought him some food and it really made his day.

“The innocent eyes of children seem to see the world in a different way to us world weary adults and I think we can all take something from that.

“I hate to think about homeless people shivering through the night and if there’s anything I can do to help I will.”

Mr Martin stressed that all goods donated should be in reasonable condition. He will be accepting donations up until June 1.