Throughout the year, on Tuesday mornings, Christ Church opens its doors for the Island Garden Foodbank (an initiative which used to be called the Parish Pantry). Volunteers from several local churches, including Christ Church, serve our guests with tea and biscuits while they wait to choose 10 items of food and toiletries. The food comes from donations and from the resources of the St Mildred Relief in Need Fund and the Isle of Dogs Parish Trust, and we are also supported by the Alexandra Trust.

Harvest is a particularly important time for the Foodbank. We welcome and store contributions of food from local (and not so local) schools and community groups. 

Sometimes the harvest is not about the tins we bring or the cheques we sign to support the work (though these are important). This year our Harvest Appeal is for more volunteers to keep this important work going, for all the indications are that foodbanks are becoming a more and more important way in which we help the most vulnerable and overcome division. 

If you can help as a volunteer, perhaps on Tuesday mornings, or perhaps at other times to collect and deliver contributions to the church, please see the form that is attached to this newsletter. We'd love to have you as a volunteer.

Fr. Tom Pyke