The current 'Winter Warmth' campaign was started in November 2020 where volunteers helped the homeless in London, Brighton and Manchester. The campaign is aiming to raise awareness about OAPA to help increase financial donations to help rough sleepers into careers in the hospitality industry.
Fourteen volunteers from Zonal helped to pack 309 backpacks filled with warm clothing, sleeping bags, toiletries and flasks. Zonal and OAPA volunteers distributed the kits to local hostels and rough sleepers in Scotland’s capital.
Stuart McLean, chief executive of Zonal, said: “As a business with its home in Edinburgh, being part of the Winter Warmth campaign is a great way for us to lend our support to those sleeping rough as well as to help Scotland’s hospitality industry.
“We aim to continue helping the charity’s vital work in the months ahead, especially after the incredibly challenging time the industry has experienced.”
In addition to the Winter Warmth launch in Scotland, Zonal is also supporting the OAPA’s Annual Cook and Dine fundraising event later this year, with various team members volunteering on the day both back and front of house.
Greg Mangham, founder of OAPA, added: “We believe that our work is more vital than ever, so launching our first campaign in Scotland is incredibly important to us.
“We’re delighted to have partnered with a leading business such as Zonal for this campaign and are grateful for the support the team offered on the day. We’re looking forward to collaborating again in the near future as we expand our support in what has been a really tough year for the sector.”