Bags of Hope

St Andrew’s, Dibden Purlieu, is very much aware of local needs, reaching out to care homes and local schools alike, as well as being a point of contact for the local foodbank.

Christmas is a great opportunity to spread some Christian cheer, and have some fun in the process.

Parish Volunteer, Jo Snocken says:

“It’s a privilege to be able to reach out with a positive message of God’s love to those who might not have contact with the church – those in need, or busy single parents, or those who physically can’t get to our building.

We got the idea from Holy Trinity Brompton, and our Associate Minister Serena and Finance Director Annette helped us to get started with the scheme.

We delivered free meals during lockdown, so some of the bags are going to those contacts, such as families and the elderly, but there are others we’ve found to be needy, and some have been recently bereaved.

A team of half a dozen volunteers spent an evening listening to some of our favourite Christmas tunes and eating festive snacks helped keep us going as we packed 157 bags with biscuits, sweets, chocolate, hot drink sachets, fruit decorations, and a ‘Why Christmas?’ booklet. 

We also had colouring and activity books with crayons for the children’s bags.

Hopefully, this is the first year of many!”

The bags in the picture went to a local school to bless students.