Around this time each year, the SVP conferences in the Westminster diocese work on a common project known as ‘Vinnie Packs’. A ‘Vinnie Pack’ is basically a small bag that contains essential items for a homeless person in winter time. It contains such things as a thermal hat, thermal gloves, 2 pairs of thermal socks, toothbrush and paste, wetwipes, copy of Pavement magazine, a pen and an information sheet with useful numbers. 11,500 Vinnie packs need to be assembled ahead of winter.
The annual, national SVP Awareness Campaign has now commenced and this year it is labelled ‘Rise to the Challenge’. Throughout the world, including within our own parish, the SVP volunteers have been rising to the many challenges presented to us by the COVID19 pandemic. The Foodbank has remained open, home deliveries have been put in place, phone buddying continues at pace, hospital visits have been conducted safely, bereavement counselling continues, local issues of poverty have been addressed and twinnage activity with our sisters and brothers in the developing world have continued. The work of our SVP Conference is mirrored by thousands of SVP Conferences throughout the world.
The path to God’s house can be both a physical, as well as a spiritual, challenge. Recently, the SVP team, in combination with the Young Persons SVP and some neighbours, made an attempt at easing the physical journey of our parishioners.
On a humid, but dry, Sunday afternoon a team of 12 volunteers met to clear up the public footpath that leads down the side of the church grounds, from The Croft to Victoria Road. The footpath can be an eyesore at times and can make some parishioners feel vulnerable. A clean-up was proposed by the Young Persons SVP and a wonderful turnout was had!
We recently mentioned the significant increase in visitor numbers to the Foodbank and that the team is considering a re-introduction of a volunteers rota to help us through the coming autumn and winter.
Since Lockdown commenced, the Foodbank has been operated by a ‘volunteers bubble’ - consisting of SVP and Young Persons SVP members and also a fantastic ’temporary’ team of home delivery volunteers.
Thank you to those who have kindly stepped forward to be part of the new rota and it is still not too late to get in touch if you would like to be included! The Foodbank leaders meet next Saturday to discuss the idea of re-introducing a rota, potentially to start on Sept. 5, and we will be in touch with all those who expressed an interest once a safe strategy is agreed.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in the parish is so tangible. Your incredible response to the Easter appeal for help, which raised over £3,500, has given us a super-solid foundation from which we are able to continue to help the needy who come to us.
Before the pandemic, our typical monthly visitor numbers to the Foodbank were 120+. In May, though, our monthly figure was a sobering 391. Each and every one was helped, because you helped us. Please accept our heartfelt thanks for your donations of funds, supplies and, above all, prayers.