An Aberdeenshire businessman is spreading goodwill by donating life-saving sleeping bags to the homeless.
In partnership with Aberdeen’s Social Bite café and the local Cyrenians, Ian Garden, director of RigDeluge Ltd, has given 100 extreme-weather bags in the hope they will help people survive on the streets.
The Fintray-based boss initially got involved after being asked to fund a homeless film project by Fennel Media.
His benevolence has been prompted by his childhood memories of feeling warm during chilly winters.
He said: “I remember being able to pick the ice off the inside of my bedroom window. I always got a hot-water bottle or an extra blanket from my mum and it made me feel so good.
“It is one of those memories that stuck with me and got me thinking about folk having to sleep out in the street – especially with the freezing temperatures we had recently.”
Mr Garden has raised £175,000 for a variety of charities since starting his business in 2012 and feels it is important to give something back.
He added: “By donating these bags, we can give that feeling of warmth to 100 people who might be a little bit lost and maybe think nobody cares about them.
“Those two things could potentially drive someone over the edge – especially in freezing weather. We just want them to know that someone does care.”
Aberdeen Social Bite manager Amanda Robertson helps feed the city’s homeless with a ‘pay it forward’ scheme.
She said: “Customers can buy a hot drink or a meal anytime they are in and we keep them until someone comes in who needs it. We hand out about ten a day.”
The sandwich shop on Union Street opened last year, following the success of other Social Bite outlets in Edinburgh and Glasgow, but unlike its sister shops has not yet received any visits from A-list Hollywood stars.
George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio have both made high-profile trips to the Edinburgh Social Bite branch.
Ms Robertson said: “We’re still waiting for Leo to come and visit; we would love it if a celebrity could come for our re-launch party in January!”
Co-worker Matthew Thomas spoke of his journey through homelessness and praised the work of Social Bite.
He explained: “I’m finally off my depression medication after 15 years. It is down to Amanda and the support I get from Social Bite.”
