Chance To See Work of Pit Stop

I am sorry to read that there are so many drunks and homeless people in Wellington. I don’t think you see many on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Mornings, when Kip and Mark’s Pit Stop are open.

Maybe Wellington Town Council would like to fund Monday, Friday and Saturdays. We have had many offers of help.

It costs Mark’s Pit Stop more than £3000 per year to keep it running for two mornings a week.

No drinking or drug taking is allowed.

We give just friendship, advice, food and clothing to those in need. We are a non-judgemental group.

We offer an invitation to all Wellington Town Council to come in on a Tuesday or Thursday morning to try our tea and friendship.

Janet and the volunteers
Mark’s Pit Stop
Wellington


MARKS PIT STOP

Mark’s Pit Stop is run by volunteers with Janet and Pearl being a great driving force behind its success.

Janet and Pearl have their own stories to tell and maybe the Councillors from Wellington Town Council could simply ask

“Why is it called Mark’s Pit Stop”

Maybe they could ask both Janet and Pearl their story, then they will be truly enlightened.

Having had the pleasure of visiting Mark’s Pit Stop, I found both Janet and Pearl to be quite inspirational people and it is people like these that are the true champions of Telford.

Having had the pleasure of visiting and speaking to a number of the people who use this facility, I found them to be fantastic people and a pleasure to meet.

They are just normal people. Caring individuals who made me feel welcome. Intelligent, well read and with the ability to converse at many levels if given the chance

Some people have a vision of a homeless person and the vision many seem to have is completely wrong. They are not all drinkers and drug takers or any other caricature you choose to bestow on them.

Many are just down on their luck for a wide variety of reasons, some are ill for a variety of reasons including mental illness, but all are people.

Unfortunately, homelessness is going to increase and the recession will certainly make that happen. Yet, the non statutory homeless will always be in a position where no one accepts any responsibility for helping them.

It is the likes of Janet and Pearl, through places like Mark’s Pit Stop that will fill a huge hole, providing much needed support, advice and assistance for those that need it the most.

If a dog escaped from its owner, sooner, rather than later it will get picked up by a dog warden, taken to a kennel, housed, fed and watered.

Yet, a human being can be made homeless, often through no fault of their own and will be left to sleep in shop doorways, old garages, benches or if they are lucky a tent.

Why?

Are humans the only animal on the face of the earth prepared to do this to one of its own. Only to ignore them, label them and want them moving on?

I hope Wellington Town Council accept Janet’s invitation, although I doubt many will, but some elected members will moan about them using a bench near their premises, but will not fight the corner of those that need their help the most.

Janet, Pearl and the other volunteers provide an amazing service and people have told me, that if it was not for them, they could be dead.

Janet can be contacted on her mobile phone 07817 981 772

They do rely on donations of food, money, clothing etc. All the practical things that people really need and will be Telford Council Watch’s preferred voluntary service from now and through 2009. So if anyone has any clothing donations etc through the next year they wish to make, I will gladly collect and deliver to Wellington.

I hope the Town Council can find it in themselves to assist in anyway possible. I have been informed that Cllr Gary Davies and Cllr Mary Lewis support them as much as possible. Well done, can the others match their efforts.