Commuters at Clapham Junction station will have the chance to help the homeless this Christmas through a new shoebox appeal.
On Monday, travellers can donate shoeboxes of items for homeless people over Christmas to a centre for homeless and vulnerable people in the south of London.
South Western Railway partnered with the Ace of Clubs day centre in Clapham which provides hot meals and support throughout the year.
Ace of Clubs director Andrew Tyers said: “We were delighted to be approached by the South Western Railway team at Clapham Junction about the shoebox appeal as it directly links the local community with our guests.
“Every day, people come through our doors who have spent the night before sleeping in the parks or on the streets in Lambeth and Wandsworth.
“Other guests may be in some sort of accommodation but feel isolated and vulnerable.”
He added: “All our guests come here for practical support. They also come to be somewhere where they can feel part of society rather than excluded from it.”
The shoeboxes donated by commuters on Monday will be taken to the centre later in the week and the presents will then be distributed over the whole Christmas period.
Some of the boxes already donated to the centre include practical items such as oyster cards, prepaid mobile phones and socks, along with more personal notes and gifts.
The Ace of Clubs is open Monday to Friday year-round and will be open throughout Christmas and the new year.
It expects around 150 guests for dinner on Christmas day, supported by at least 25 volunteers.
South Western Railway staff will be on hand at Clapham Junction station on December 10 from 7am to 7pm to collect the shoeboxes.
