A DAD-OF-THREE who works full time but still finds time to help Newport’s homeless is among several community figures who have been nominated for the Argus’ ‘Pride of Gwent Awards’.

Martyn Parry, 44, who was born and bred in Risca but is currently living off Corporation Road, in Lliswerry, has been nominated for the Pride of Gwent Volunteer Award.

Mr Parry, who works as an operations transport manager at a cooking oil company, started to help the city’s homeless about six months ago, after going through a relationship breakdown.

He said this led to him suffering from insomnia.

“I would wake up and walk the streets,” he said. “I saw people and became friends with them, they opened up to me.

“These days, every Saturday morning, I go to Mad Hatters Tearoom, in Newport’s High Street, where we make sausage rolls and egg rolls, amongst others.

“We wrap them up and we deliver them to the homeless people together with hot beverages.

“On Sunday, I cook a hot dinner and then I distribute it.”

During the week, Mr Parry goes round asking for requests from people living on the streets, such as torches, mobile phones and sleeping bags.

He either gets them out of his own pocket or puts the request on his Facebook page, which has 200 members.

He has also arranged for a barber to join him on his Tuesday walk from now own. The barber will be offering shaves and haircuts free of charge.

Mr Parry works with a number of charities but is now setting up his own – Making A Difference With Food for Thought.

He said: “Doing this makes me feel very happy, I feel like I’m making a difference to someone else’s life.

“I’m very proud and humbled to be nominated for the award.”

Mr Parry said that his ambition is to spread the group to other cities, like Cardiff.

“If I can do that, that’d be heaven,” he said.

He’s currently raising funds for a storage area and a freezer for the food he distributes.

Mr Parry, and other people who help him, will be walking up Pen-Y-Fan on Sunday January 28 to raise funds.

An anonymous reader nominated Mr Parry for the award.

In the written submission, they said: “His friendly approach and sympathetic attitude has encouraged others to join him in this worthy cause.

“Despite having three children and a full time job, he makes time in the evenings and weekends and works tirelessly to reach these vulnerable people.

“He asks nothing in return, his mantra is that every little bit helps and that we can all make it count.

“I cannot praise this man highly enough.”

There is still time for readers to submit their nominations for the Pride of Gwent Awards, which contain the following categories:

  • 999 hero Award
  • Charity Champion Award
  • Life Saver Award
  • Special Recognition Award
  • Community Hero Award
  • Courage Award Award
  • Achiever Award
  • Good Samaritan Award
  • Volunteer Award
  • Carer Award
  • Local Hero Award
  • Environment Award
  • Lifetime Achievement Award

To nominate someone for an award fill in the form here. 

The closing date for nominations is January 27. with a judging panel picking winners in February followed by a ceremony in March at the Coldra Court Hotel by Celtic Manor.

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