Raise money for a pop-up tent and a winter-grade double sleeping bag so Jim can fit in it without taking off any layers of clothing.
by Louise Adams in Edinburgh, , United Kingdom
Double sleeping bags seem to cost around £130 and winter-grade will be a touch more. One I’ve bought both the sleeping bag and the tent, if there is money leftover, I’d like to ask Jim what he values more. It may be water-proof clothing and boots or it may be his coveted passport. The choice is his.
Organic Jim has been homeless for at least a decade. I used to see him in the bins around Morningside on my way home from nightshifts as a carer in that area.
He is known to Streetworks and doesn’t accept accomodation with them due to some various trust issues and fears about who he’d potentially have to live with, as well as catching covid. Streetworks can no longer give out sleeping bags and tents as their aim is to help people get off the streets, not to incentivise them to stay there. A very frustrating way of doing things -_-
Jim doesn’t take drugs or drink and takes his health seriously (he won’t have a sweet coffee or accept sweet or salty food).
Organic Jim is harmless, however he seems quite manic and can get talking in loops. He seems like a shining example of someone who’s slipped through the cracks or been let down by the mental health services in this country.
Despite having dreams of getting a passport so he can live out his days in Holland, Jim refuses to take money, and just asks me to put it towards a tent! And so I have!
I will buy a 2/3 pop-up tent which he can easily assemble and has room for the items he’s collected which he wants to keep safe or dry. I’d like to get a double sleeping bag which he can fit into without having to take all of his layers of clothing off in order to fit inside. It also needs to be insulated enough to be suitable for camping in severe weather.
If you live in the area or have had the pleasure of meeting Organic Jim, please consider donating towards a tent and sleeping bag to keep him safe and dry during the below-freezing nights we’ve been having.
If you can’t afford to help in that way, there are other things you could do. If you have a car, maybe you could give Jim a lift to a the Salvation Army Hotel (if he can be convinced to stay there). Jim also likes herbal tea and lentil soup, and would appreciate a hearty meal (as long as it’s healthy!) I have also given him two thermos flasks and a hot water bottle which you could top up if you’re ever passing by.