We recently joined ‘Help & Hope for the Homeless’ in London…
Charity is what Freemasons do well, but it is uncommon to find a Freemason as close to the frontline as Lloyd Gilmore. Lloyd and his wife Shoshana run Help & Hope for the homeless, an organisation who supply food, clothing and other important items to rough sleepers in London.
Every Thursday evening for the last 4 years, Lloyd and his group have visited the capital with a car packed full of essentials. Lloyd is often joined by other Freemasons who have the same passion in giving back and providing a service to those who are in need. The evening starts outside the IoD building on Pall Mall, with the team serving food, tea and helping distribute clothing. A great line of people queue each week to benefit from the service Lloyd and his team provide. Once they have interacted with the homeless at Pall Mall, they walk a large circuit around the local area visiting people in doorways and makeshift shelters. The interaction and empathy with the homeless is so important, Lloyd and his group listen to what the people need, and if they don’t have it, they try and bring it along next week.
This service is greatly received, but the whole operation is organised by a very small team of volunteers. There is not any regular funding in place, and Help & Hope rely on the generosity of donations and businesses who help with food supply. Lloyd and his group are truly remarkable, it is fantastic to see Freemasons who are working with the homeless in a unique way.
Website: www.helpandhopeforthehomeless.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hertsandlondonhomeless
