Christmas clean up for homeless charity

Cleaning products company helps with festive campaign.

A Christmas Comes Early Big Clean Up campaign at charity Sifa Fireside was a glistening success earlier this week thanks to disinfectant brand Zoflora, and an army of volunteers.

To make Christmas a little easier for those less fortunate, Zoflora worked with the Birmingham charity and the clients to undertake a deep clean.

The Allcock Street-based charity works with those who are homeless or otherwise socially excluded to improve their physical, social and mental wellbeing. The deep clean was highly appreciated by those who utilise and treasure the facility. Led by the Zoflora team and Birmingham-based cleaning company Love Housekeeping, the volunteers put on their rubber gloves and made an excellent job of the main social room, the kitchen and the bathrooms.

Service user Chris Swain, (43), helped scrub the showers and floors. He has been coming to Sifa Fireside for two and half years and has been singing in choirs for 25 years. He said: “Sifa Fireside is a great facility. I come because I have friends here and I use the beneficial services provided. They have great groups and I am part of the band as a singer, which I love. It is really good for us to be able to come here in the day, so we have something to do and we can meet new people.”

Mary Mantom, Facilities Manager at Sifa Fireside said: “Everyone at SIFA Fireside noticed the difference in the Drop In area after the clean up – our facilities look and smell fresh and clean and it’s nice to have things sparkling clean ready for the festive season ahead. The clients enjoyed helping out as they take pride in our facilities.”

SIFA Fireside works five days a week with some of the most vulnerable adults in society: those experiencing homelessness or who are vulnerably-housed. Many of the people Sifa Fireside works with – the clients – are affected by substance misues, facing mental and physical health problems or otherwise socially excluded. The facility runs a daily Drop-In service where on average 1031 breakfasts, 2009 lunches and 429 showers are provided ach month for the clients.

The charity relies completely on volunteers, and provides food, showers and clothing as well as much more to anyone who needs a helping hand.

The Clean Up campaign with the homeless shelter is part of a nationwide initiative from Zoflora, which reaches out to communities around the UK. The Zoflora Big Clean Up team look to help worthy causes that are in need of a fresh start, and will clean up and reinvigorate their much needed facilities.