Requests update

September is proving to be a very busy month; so far this month we have already given away almost as many food bags as we did in the whole of September last year. As a result, the cupboards are really very low on some items, and we have run out of some things altogether. So if you use this blog to keep you up-to-date with what Storehouse needs, here's what we are needing at the moment:

• tinned meat*, tinned fish*
• tinned vegetables*, tinned potatoes & instant mash
• pasta & pasta sauces
• desserts of all kinds
• small packets of cereals*
• toiletries, especially toothpaste* and deodrants*
• ANYTHING suitable for people with no access to any cooking facilities.

As we give away more food bags, we reach and have an impact in the lives of more and more people. It is wonderful that we are able to do this, and to be able to show something of God's love and concern for the marginalised, the poor and the needy. It is great too that we can be a part of this, whether we bring just one or two cans and whether we are part of West Suffolk Vineyard Church or not. We are grateful for the involvement and donations of other churches to the work at Storehouse and also for donations from schools and local churches of their harvest celebration items at this time of year. (If you know of a local school or church that is going to be holding a harvest celebration, please feel free to mention Storehouse to them, as we would be very grateful for any donations of food and toiletries from them. Contact the Vineyard Centre or any of the Storehouse team for more info, or leave a comment on this blog.) Please be assured that everything that you give makes a difference in the life of someone, and whether they are aware of it or not, demonstrates the love and compassion that God has for them. Thank you.

August stats and requests update

August was yet another busy month for Storehouse. During the month, we received 65 requests from 12 different local agencies plus a couple of non-agency requests all of which resulted in 73 food bags being given away to needy and struggling people in and around Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk.
As a result of so many requests, plus more than 10 bags going out in the first 2 days of September, we are desperately short of many items and would very much appreciate the following (please feel free to drop any items in at the Vineyard Centre):

• any food that can be eaten without heating (e.g. ring-pull cans, peanuts, biscuits etc)
• tinned meat (we have 1 tin left), fish, vegetables*, potatoes
• pasta sauces, instant/pot noodles, instant mash
• fruit & desserts
• small cereals, tea bags*
• toiletries, especially deodorant*, toothpaste*, shower gel*, soap*

It is wonderful that we are able to help so many people in this practical way, showing them compassion in a way that impacts their lives. When we give just one or two cans we really do make a difference, so thank you for everything that you do give.

On a slightly different tack, if you are involved with a local school that is going to be holding a Harvest celebration of any kind, you could maybe mention to the staff that Storehouse would gladly take any non-perishable items that are donated. We have already written to most of the local schools, but any additional support would be most welcome. Thank you.

Requests update

August has so far been yet another busy month for Storehouse with around 15 bags a week going to people in need in and around Bury St Edmunds. The cupboards are looking really quite bare in some areas as a result and so we would particularly appreciate the following items:

• tinned meat
• tinned vegetables*
• tinned potatoes & instant mash
• tinned desserts and fruit
• tea bags
• small packets of cereals
• toiletries especially shower gel*, toothpaste* and soap*

We are right out of items marked *.

We are very grateful for all the donations we receive, especially through the holiday period when perhaps it is all too easy to be thinking about other things. As the cupboards are so low at the moment please do drop things in at the Vineyard Centre if you are able to. Thank you for all you give - every can or two makes a real difference in the lives of those who receive them.

July Stats (and requests update)

July has been the busiest month for Storehouse so far in 2009. During the month we received 76 requests for food bags from 15 different local agencies plus some non-agency requests. As a result of these requests, Storehouse gave away 89 food bags during July to single men, single ladies and families. All of these people will have been needy people, from differing backgrounds, but your continuing generosity will have made a real difference in their lives. Each food bag contains food and toiletries for a few days, to help someone have a few meals and keep clean. At the moment we are running very low on tea bags, tinned fish (we have none), tinned meat and meaty meals, vegetables, desserts, small packets of cereals, and long life milk. As you might imagine, most of these are pretty staple foods and we like to put some in every food bag. If you are going to be away during the summer, please feel free to drop any donations of food in at the Vineyard Centre during the week. It's wonderful that we can reach out in this way and touch so many lives in a practical way, but as a way of showing them that God cares for them. Thank you for all you do as part of this ministry.

Requests update

July continues to be a very busy month for Storehouse with much of the food that comes in going out almost as quickly. Even after all the food collected yesterday at our Sunday morning celebration, we are still running low on some items:

• tinned meat, meaty meals and tinned fish*
• tinned fruit and other desserts
• small boxes of cereal (eg multi packs, or weetabix etc which can be hygienically split)
• long life milk
• tea bags
• toiletries, especially toothpaste, deodorants, shower gel*

We have none of the items marked *

As kinships maybe take a break over the Summer, please keep an eye on this blog, and on the notice board on Sunday mornings for updates as to what we are running low of. We always try and make up a food bag with food for all the meals in the day, so we are always needing plenty of different foods, but we do run low on particular things at different times (although it's worth pointing out that we do have plenty of tinned soup for the foreseeable future). Please feel free to drop any food in at the Vineyard Centre at 15a Out Westgate during the week, or in the buckets on a Sunday morning. As Chris was mentioning on Sunday, we might never see the outcome of our actions, but as we reach out with compassion to those in need around us, we are showing God's love to the needy while at the same time allowing him to soften our hearts. Let's keep reaching out and at the same time listening to him as we join together to serve him in this way. Thank you.

Requests update

When I arrived at the Vineyard Centre on Wednesday morning, there were 6 or 7 Storehouse bags waiting to be collected, indicative of what a busy week and month it has been so far. As we had to make up plenty of bags, we are as a result running low on several items. We are right out of Tinned Fish, Shower Gel and Deodorants. We are also running low of tinned meat and meaty meals, instant noodles etc, pasta sauces, tinned desserts (we have just one tin), small packets of cereal, long life milk and tea bags. Please feel free to drop any gifts in at the Vineyard Centre during the week, especially if you would normally take them to Kinship and you might not be meeting up over the Summer. We really do appreciate all your gifts, because even one or two cans make a difference. It is wonderful that as a church we are all a part of this ministry as we give, and as we show God's love to needy people around us, in a practical way. Thank you.

Urgent requests update

After a brief lull in June, the start of July has been very busy for Storehouse, with over 30 bags having gone out already this month! As a result we are right out of tinned desserts, long life milk, deodorant and shower gel, and running low on tinned fish, tinned meat and meaty meals, potatoes (tinned and instant mash), cereals, pasta sauces, toothpaste and soap. Storehouse gives us a wonderful opportunity to reach out to needy people and, in a non judgemental way, demonstrate some of God's love for them. As you continue to give food and toiletries, that is what you are doing, and it really does make a difference. May God bless you as you do this. Thank you.