The centre based in St Alphonsus Road, SW4 provides 80 -100 hot meals per day, showering and laundry facilities, medical, educational, recreational services and welfare advice. In addition, the centre is simply a place where the marginalised can come to socialise and relax.
This valuable work prompted a local doctor, Rudi Pitroff, to launch a sock appeal. Rudi explains, “I have always been impressed by Ace’s transformational work in the Clapham community and so decided to purchase 1200 pairs of socks – one for each day the centre has been in existence. The fundraising concept is to ask donors to either purchase a £1 pair of socks for their own use or to purchase a pair for donation to the centre so they can be distributed to clients. All profits will go to the Ace of Clubs to help fund its ongoing projects”.
Centre Manager, Sarah Miles welcomed the initiative, “Many clients have little or no spare clothing so clean, dry socks are an essential item particularly during the harsh winter months. In our 21st anniversary year the centre will be serving 21,000 meals and this is being mirrored by our aim to raise £21,000. The sock appeal will play an important part in our fundraising efforts. The Argyll socks are thermal and make great sticking fillers!”
These ideal winter gifts can be purchased at the Ace of Clubs shops on St Alphonsus Road, SW4 and St John’s Road, Clapham Junction and the Ace of Clubs Centre. There are also plans for local Clapham businesses to stock the socks.
For further details of the sock appeal please contact Sarah Miles (Centre Manager) on 020 7720 2811.
Photo: Father Peter, Redemptorist priest (left) and Dr Rudi Pitroff (sponsor) with pupils from St Mary’s RC School who are also supporting the sock appeal.
