Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Hollywood actor George Clooney has given the first £5 to a Christmas campaign to feed the homeless.
Social Bite, in Edinburgh, is a non-profit sandwich shop that gives meals to the needy, as such its Christmas campaign aims to provide Christmas meals for the homeless in Scotland.
George Clooney visited the cafe in Edinburgh last month and recorded this video message on a staff members Iphone, pledging the first (Scottish) £5 to the cause and encouraging others to do the same.
"I'm giving five pounds to Social Bite, and I hope you do too" the actor says before placing the note on the counter.
Many others have joined the pledge, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon as well as comedians Rob Brydon and Chris Evans.
Josh Littlejohn discussed the success of last year's Christmas campaign on Social Bite's YouTube channel: “Last year we asked the public to pay £5 to allow us to open on Christmas day and give local homeless people a place to go for a good meal.
“Our target was to provide 800 meals. We were amazed by the response and received over 36,000 donations from all over the world meaning we not only fed folk at Christmas, we were able to feed them all year round in all five of our shops."
This year Social Bite are not only opening for the homeless on Christmas day but are also sending an envoy of food trucks to refugee camps in Calais, Lesbos as well as the border between Serbia and Croatia.
Scottish outdoor clothing brand Tresspass will match every £5 donation with a hat and pair of gloves, as well as jackets, sleeping bags and tents.
Mr Littlejohn said "It's Christmas time, it's freezing outside. There are men, women and children that are absolutely desperate fleeing from conflict, so this is just about really reaching out a hand of compassion to say we're with you, we're not against you."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments