These listed Charities for Church Collections are provisional as they are subject to approval at the next PCC Meeting.
January 2024 - WATERLOOVILLE FOOD BANK
Waterlooville Food Bank is based at Wecock Church and is run completely by volunteers. It is a joint venture between Living Waters Fellowship and Waterlooville Baptist Church. It offers free food hampers to those in need (subject to a referral from a recognised organisation).
The food bank gives parcels of food and other daily essentials to those who have difficulty purchasing enough due to unforeseen circumstances.
There are volunteers from churches and other walks of life who help to make this possible by making up the parcels for collection on Mondays between 9.30 and 11.30am and on Fridays between 12 noon and 2pm and collecting from the various collection points. St George’s Church is a collection point and helps to collect food for this very necessary and vital charity...
Other collection points are in local supermarkets, churches and offices in the area.
Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…..”
February 2024 - THE NEW BLENDWORTH CENTRE
The New Blendworth Centre is a day provision for post 19 year old people with varying degrees of learning difficulties/disabilities. The Centre offers its Service Users a work orientated placement in a semi-sheltered environment in Horndean. The Centre aims to develop and support individual goals, encourage friendships, raise self-esteem and promote confidence and independence.
Within the Centre grounds there is a small nursery outlet with many poly tunnels and potting sheds which facilitates the Service Users activities. From seed sowing, plant cuttings, potting on, cleaning stock and generally keeping the nursery and its display areas clean and tidy, makes for a busy day at the Centre. The end product of these on-site activities can be purchased by the general public in the nursery shop.
An organisation called the Bedhampton Volunteers have for many years contracted the New Blendworth Centre to plant up their wraparound lamppost tubs for their summer display within the village of Bedhampton.
Out-reach contractual work ranging from small gardens to larger grounds maintenance is carried out by a small team under the supervision of a member of staff.
The charity takes pride in the fact that it is very involved in the local community; undertaking litter pick-ups for Horndean Parish Council and Clanfield Parish Council and also delivering leaflets in these areas when required to do so.
The Centre offers the opportunity for its Service Users to join together in recreational activities during the week. Basic adult education is delivered at the Centre in a small classroom setting for Service Users who wish to continue to develop their numeracy and literary skills.
A new craft area has proven to be very popular offering Service Users the opportunity to experience working with different art and craft mediums.
Its Service Users feel passionately about their Centre and this is demonstrated by the enthusiasm each individual exhibits throughout any one day and their continuing contribution to the running and the maintenance of this service facility.
March 2024 - THE BISHOP’S LENT APPEAL
Each year, our bishop organises a Lent Appeal to help one local and one global good cause. Worshippers from our diocese donate money and hold fundraising events to support those charities.
At the time of publishing this issue of St George’s News, the good causes to be supported by the 2024 Bishop’s Lent Appeal have yet to be announced.
