Stroud’s mayor is urging residents to sign up to a campaign to provide a meal a month to the town’s homeless.

The Marah Trust, a small Stroud-based charity that provides free hot meals three days a week for those in need, is looking for 100 people to be regular donors.

A £3 donation a month would cover the cost of fresh ingredients, hall rental, utilities and equipment costs.

Marah provides hot meals two days a week at their drop-in at the Scout Hut in Chapel Street. A lighter hot meal is served on Saturdays from Stroud Baptist Church Hall. The two paid staff and 43 volunteers ensure people have something to eat, sign post those in need to support or simply to have a hot meal and to chat.

One of those who has backed the campaign is Stroud Town Mayor Kevin Cranston.

“For just £3 a month you can ensure that the Marah Trust provides one nutritional two-course hot meal to someone who may be living on the street or struggling to make ends meet,” said Councillor Cranston.

“It’s a small amount but can make a huge difference to someone who is trying to get their life back on track.”

Michael Athienites, Marah’s drop-in manager, said the charity has seen an increase in people using their services.

When the drop-in service was started in 2001 it was attended by around 12 people per session. That number has now grown to around 50 people with a further increase during the winter months.

“We are a small charity but depend solely on gifts, grants and fundraising by supporters,” said Mr Athienites.

“We work with people on the margins of society; those who are excluded from the everyday, positive experiences of life due to their circumstances, life history and others’ perception of them.

“By becoming a regular donor you will enable us to support people who are in danger of falling into crisis.”

Marah provides access to advocacy services provided by its partner P3. Marah volunteers maintain regular contact with advocacy clients who are struggling to cope, which give them the reassurance and confidence needed for them to resolve the issue.

Marah is on the front line in supporting homeless and vulnerable people in Stroud. Two thirds of Marah clients have experienced homelessness.

The charity’s aim since its beginnings in 2001 has been to help the growing numbers of Stroud’s men and women who are marginalised by society.

You can donate by going to the Marah Trust website: www.marah.org.uk