Saintfield man shows his Christmas spirit in sit-out

Saintfield man shows his Christmas spirit in sit-out

1 January 2013

JUST 12 hours living rough on the streets has given Jonny Harper an insight into a life he doesn’t envy.

He was well wrapped up for the occasion and local shops even donated food on the day, but the isolation is something he remembers as opposed to the cold.

The Saintfield Parish Church youth worker was on a mission to raise money for homeless charity Simon Community. On the Friday before Christmas, between 8am and 8pm, he therefore spent the day living rough on Main Street. On the day itself he raised an impressive £884, with money donated since then bringing the total to £1000.

“My dad did something similar in Ballinamallard and it got a very positive response,” Jonny explained. “A lollipop lady donated me her waterproofs, I had a bench to sit on and the shops were very kind, bringing me out chips and hot chocolate.

“The weather was fine and while I certainly wasn’t warm, I wasn’t cold. But 12 hours is a long time, it did get lonely. I was thinking I really can’t imagine how people do this. It was a time for reflection.”

Thanking everyone who stopped to donate on the day, Jonny concedes Saintfield is perhaps not used to seeing people on the streets. And while he drew attention, and kindly donations, he says that in other areas he may not have been as lucky.

“I became aware of the problem of homelessness when I was a student in Belfast,” he said. “People are walking about and often past them on the streets.

“If you stop to talk to these people you realise that these are just normal people, who have just maybe had a bad run. You hear that these are people who have put themselves in that situation but it is quite likely that is not the case.

“It could just happen to anybody. And when you hear the stories from the Simon Community you realise these are individuals who have perhaps been well off and can suddenly find everything taken from them.

“It is particularly relevant in the current economic climate. Nobody can be sure of a job now.

“The Simon Community is doing all that it can to point these people in the right direction to shelters etc. but it is about raising awareness.

“People get used to walking by, but even just standing talking to these people can help.”