Harvest Festivals to support local food banks

St Philip & St James Church Alderley Edge will be holding harvest services on Sunday, 8th October, at 10am and 6.30pm.

As usual people are being asked to bring non-perishable items to church for distribution via local food banks.

Rev Robin Pye, said, "We actually accept food donations in church between 8am and 6pm every weekday, as well as at our Sunday services. We pass the food onto foodbanks operated by Hampers of Hope in Wilmslow and Knutsford.

"With Universal Credit being rolled out in Cheshire East in the next few weeks, Hampers of Hope are worried that they will suddenly have to support a lot more people, so the food we can donate this year is going to be even more vital than it has been in the past. With Universal Credit, people losing their jobs will have to wait at least six weeks before they get their first payment and even then, they may not get their full rent covered. This will give people a major challenge in terms of cash flow and managing their money so the food provided by foodbanks as well as support with money management and moral support will be critical."

He added "Jesus said that the Kingdom of God will be given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. Among other things, that means sharing our harvest with our neighbours. We have a choice. We can become a community where more and more people are driven into poverty and made homeless. Or we can be a community where we help each other and care for each other. We may well find out in the next few months, which way we are going. If that is something that worries you, help us by bringing some food down to the church, either at the harvest service or by leaving it next to the red bin in the porch."

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Harvest Festival, St Philip and St James Church