People in Aberdeen responded in their hundreds after an appeal was issued to help the city’s homeless.
The Rucksack Project is a worldwide campaign which asks communities to fill a bag with essential items to help those sleeping rough get through the winter.
Amber Sebold was instrumental in introducing it to Aberdeen and was overwhelmed at the response which culminated in hundreds of rucksacks being handed out at the weekend. Homeless charity, Aberdeen Cyrenians, hosted the event with deputy chief executive, Scott Baxter, helping a team of volunteers distribute the bulging bags.
Ms Sebold described the reaction from one homeless man who was taken aback at the kindness shown by those who donated.
She said: “It was really touching to see how grateful people were to receive the rucksacks.
“I spoke to one man and helped him find a spare sleeping bag because his rucksack didn’t have one and he said he had been so cold at night.
“I found him a really thick, warm one and he was so grateful. He asked what the project was about so I told him people made these backpacks up so that you guys could be a bit warmer this winter.
“When I told him that someone had packed a rucksack specially he replied ‘That is so kind, I don’t know who it is but tell them thank you very much’, but I would like to thank so many people.
“Everyone who came along was fantastic. Despite the horrible weather we had lots of people, as well as masses and masses of rucksacks.”
On a personal level, Ms Sebold, 30, from Mintlaw, wanted to show her three children, nine-year-old Cory, Calvin, eight, and Maia, four, the true meaning of Christmas.
She said: “I have always educated them to help people less fortunate than themselves and they have all helped with the Rucksack Project.
“It is a worldwide movement that has gathered pace and Aberdeen people magnificently answered the call to do this incredibly simple, and heart-warming thing.”
Aberdeen Cyrenians will continue to distribute the rucksacks throughout the winter and will happily accept them at the charity’s in Summer Street.
Suggested items are clothes, thermos flasks, sleeping bags and food.