Mount Gambier’s Metro Bakery and Cafe is continuing its spirit of giving by joining The SE Voice and ac.care in their winter warmth community campaign.

Last week The SE Voice launched a campaign to help vulnerable residents to keep warm as the increased cost of living and housing crisis led to a spike in homelessness across the region.

The staff at Metro joined with the community and donated winter goods such as jackets, beanies, scarves and blankets to the campaign which supports ac.care in keeping vulnerable community members warm during winter.

Metro also has placed clothing racks and a blanket box out the front of the store for people to donate and encourage vulnerable members of the community to take what they need.

Metro Bakery and Cafe front of house and campaign organiser Nikie Smith said the business started with one rack of clothing a week and a half ago but it “blew up beyond anything” they ever thought possible.

“For 13 years there’s been homeless people sleeping down here (at Metro) and I woke up one morning and decided I wanted to do something about it,” she said.

“I just want to help people for nothing, I hear a lot of ‘we are here to help but …’ or ‘we’re here to help if …’

“I don’t like that. I don’t need anything with a dollar sign attached to it so I just wanted to help people.

“The first night I had two different families come through and they all took something each so that was great.

“There has not been a person that has walked by that has not either stopped and looked or stopped and given us something.”

Any local businesses wanting to join The SE Voice and ac.care community campaign can contact melissa@sevoice.com.au for more information.