In 2011 a simple idea was born. To combat the cold, the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) began assembling Vinnie Packs – a small collection of useful, daily items to be distributed to homeless people and those on the streets to provide them with comfort against the cold weather.

Siobhan Garibaldi, who co-ordinates the project, calls the Pack ‘a gesture of love in a bag’, containing thermal socks, thermal gloves, a thermal hat, an emergency foil blanket, a toothbrush and toothpaste and a pen.

Designed to be portable, the items were chosen with this in mind as they are small enough to fit into a pocket and not so important that losing them is too distressing.

Please come help the SVP pack Vinnie Packs on Sunday 20 October in the Parish Centre after the 10:00 am Mass.

A collection will also be held after mass next weekend to support the Vinnie Packs, with all donations being used solely to fund the purchase of contents of the packs