A bountiful harvest

This weekend we celebrated Harvest at St Paul’s.  The Parochial Church Council had agreed that the offerings this year would be in support of the Foodbank at Barrow.  On the Friday afternoon the children from Grange Primary School walked to the church (in the pouring rain at the start of Storm Amy), bringing with them their gifts, which were presented at the altar during their special harvest festival service.  Later the gifts collected at Lindale Primary School were added.

On the Sunday 70 people were present for the main morning service led by the Revd David Wilmot, when further donations were brought by parishioners.  After the service a delicious lunch was enjoyed by all, the first course delivered from the Old School Kitchen, and a range of desserts provided ‘in house’.

Following the service all the goods were transported over to St Charles to be added to the regular Foodbank Collection every other month, organised by the small ecumenical group of Co-workers of Mother Teresa.  As well as gifts from individuals, donations were received from the Methodists and RC churches, the Fell Church, St Mary’s Staveley, and St Peter’s Field Broughton.

In all, 23 trays of food and toiletries were donated, plus £409 in cash, most of which was Gift Aided, a fantastic response and certainly the largest collection since we started supporting the Foodbank over 10 years ago. 

Monday morning saw the laden trays and additional large carrier bags all loaded into the van to be taken by driver Andy Wilson to the Foodbank at the back of the Baptist Church on Abbey Road, Barrow, where “the shelves are starting to look a little barren in the warehouse” – but not before calling in at St Anne’s Haverthwaite for their collection.

A very big ‘thank you’ to all who donated so generously to help local people living in crisis.

Our next date is Sunday, 7th December, which will be our Christmas collection.  Can we ask for another generous donation to help those less fortunate than ourselves!