Kind-hearted Bill thanks generous community after Christmas gift appeal for the homeless explodes in popularity

Bill Shannon, who runs voluntary group Hush '“ Help us Support the Homeless '“ has collected 120 shoeboxes with essential items and treats in for those sleeping on the streets across the area.

The 67-year-old has about 14 more to come and has also received 32 Christmas canvas bags from a Waterlooville business.

Mr Shannon is over the moon with the success of his Christmas appeal and said the generosity of those who have helped him '“ with donations coming from as far as Gibraltar '“ needs to be recognised.

He has already started handing the boxes out and said: '˜I am absolutely gobsmacked at the amount people have been willing to do to help.

'I'm over the moon because I did the appeal myself on a small scale last year, but now I have Hush and it has about 500 members on Facebook, I thought why not do something bigger.

'˜A special thanks goes to Mark Dunford from North End, who with the help of his friends and business connections, donated 62 shoeboxes to me.

'˜Holly Lander from All Unique Weddings and Gifts in Waterlooville gave me 32 canvas bags and a £50 donation towards the Christmas dinners I am doing on Sunday for the homeless.

'˜I've had donations from Waterlooville and Havant, and a woman named Marika Kyjovska from Petersfield has given me 12 shoeboxes and thermal socks, gloves, hats, toiletries and more.

'˜It's absolutely amazing. Last Monday I distributed 28 shoeboxes and six bags to The Robert Dolling Project at St Agatha's Church.

'˜Another 20 boxes have gone to The Salvation Army's LifeHouse on Albert Road.

'˜This weekend I'm taking another 20 to Hope House homeless shelter on Milton Road and I'm giving some boxes and bags to Billy Willett who owns the Happy Eater burger van that's down Commercial Road, so he can give some out. 

'˜I'll be giving the rest out at different places and I even keep some in the car in case I see a homeless person on the street.'

The boxes and bags contain toiletries, sweets, torches, gloves, hats, socks and so on.

Mr Shannon wrapped most of the boxes himself and said he has also been given £200 from the Portsmouth branch of the British Lions Club. 

He hands out drinks and hot meals which his daughter and wife help to cook with helper Emma Terracciano, manager of Gunwharf store Antler, every Sunday.

He added: '˜My passion is the people on the streets in Portsmouth but I've always done charity work, I've been brought up helping others and my kids are the same.'