Requests update

The last week has been very busy for Storehouse with over 40 bags leaving the Vineyard Centre. As you might imagine, this has left us very low on some items so that at the moment we particularly need the following:
· ANY food that can be eaten without heating
· tin openers, plastic cutlery and bowls
· tinned meat
· tinned vegetables
· pasta sauces
· toiletries
· cereals, snacks, crisps etc
· tea bags, sugar, long life milk

The Vineyard Centre will be closed from Christmas Day until the 2nd of January, but we are hoping to still be able to meet the requests we might receive over that period. It would be great if we could stock up well before Christmas, particularly as there will be no Sunday celebration on the 28th, so feel free to drop in any donations of food or toiletries etc at the Vineyard Centre.

Thank you for all that you do in supporting Storehouse. It is your continuing kindness and generosity that enables Storehouse to reach out and help needy people in our community.

Latest requests update

If you use this blog to help you buy something for Storehouse, sorry I haven't updated you for so long, but thank you for what you have brought us. At the moment we could do with the following items to help us give out foodbags over the next week:

• tinned meat and meat products
• tinned vegetables
• pasta sauces
• cereals, especially multi packs
• long life milk
• snacks - crisps, biscuits etc
• toiletries of all descriptions

We will be giving away a large number of bags this week following a request for 12 family bags, so please feel free to drop any donations off at the Vineyard Centre. And thank you again for all your donations and please feel free to add to the above anything that you feel God might be wanting you to give. This is how The Message puts part of the passage Louise spoke from yesterday (see below): Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.' (see Matthew 25: 31-46)

Sheep and Goats

Odd name for a Storehouse posting you might think, but if you were at our Sunday morning celebration yesterday you will know the context. If you weren't there, please download the talk from the Church website or right click here and "Save Target As". It talks so much about helping others and our motivation for doing that and really is worth saving and listening to again.

November stats

Sorry for not having updated this blog for so long, but here we go. During November, your kind donations of food and toiletries have enabled Storehouse to give away 71 food bags to 59 individuals or families. This was as a result of requests from 13 local agencies plus some non agency requests. Thank you for everything that you have given; the people who receive your gifts are real people with little or nothing to eat, and some don't even have a home of their own. Your donations really do make a difference in their lives - in fact a guy was talking in the school playground to someone from church the other day and he commented that Storehouse is a real life saver. He wasn't from church, but he had seen the difference Storehouse makes. We might never know the full extent to which each bag will impact someone's life, but we will keep giving away these tokens of God's love, and we thank YOU for enabling that to happen.

October Stats

During October, we received 80 requests for food bags from 14 different local agencies plus some non agency requests. This resulted in 98 food bags being given away to needy people in out town and community. At a time when we have seen a lot of food come in from harvest celebrations, we have seen a lot of demand for it. It is wonderful that we have been able to meet all of these needs and show God's love and provision in a very real and practical way. Thank you to everyone who has joined in this ministry by giving food and toiletries - you have blessed many people with your kindness.

If you are wondering whether there is anything in particular that we are short of at the moment, then we could do with the following:

• ANYTHING that can given to someone with no cooking facilities
• long life milk
• small boxes of cereal (we have none left)
• small bags of sugar
• cereal bars etc
• deodorants

If you wonder why we place so much importance on serving the poor in this way and you missed Chris' talk the other Sunday, then you can download or listen to it here (to download, right click and "Save Target As..."). Thank you.

Harvest thanksgiving

This year we have again been joined by several local schools and churches who have kindly given their non-perisahble harvest produce to Storehouse. We are truly grateful to all the following schools who have contacted us and who have more than filled our cupboards:

• Barnham Primary School
• Hardwick primary School
• Hartest Primary School
• Little Fishes pre-school
• St Edmunds Catholic Primary School & Nursery
• St James Middle School
• Sextons Manor Primary School
• Tollgate Primary School
• Westgate Primary School

The following local churches have also kindly donated their non-perishable harvest items to Storehouse:

• Hartest Church (and benefice)
• St Marys Church
• St Peters Church
• West Road Church

It is wonderful that so many people in and around our town are happy and willing to join us in this ministry. Many of the schools comment that they like to be able to help people who are in need and in our community. It has given us a good store of much of what we usually give away so that we are only really short of small cereals, toothbrushes and shower gel. Please don't stop bringing in your donations of any other items - we have already given away over 20 bags a week so far in October, so please be assured that whatever you give will make a difference. Thank you.

September Stats & requests update

Another busy month saw Storehouse give away 74 bags during September. This was as a result of 67 requests from 12 local agencies plus some non agency requests. Thank you for your donations that have enabled us all to help these people that live in our community, but who are in difficult times.
As we continue to give this number of bags away regularly, so we need the food and toiletries to keep coming in. A big thank you to Westgate Primary School who kindly donated their harvest assembly food this past week, but still we are a bit low on the following items:
· ANY food that can be eaten without heating
· tinned meat
· tinned spaghetti, ravioli etc
· tinned vegetables
· instant mashed potato, tinned potatoes
· pasta, rice, pasta sauces
· small bags of sugar
· toothpaste, deodorant, shower gel and other toiletries

The following is copied from the insert of Chris Tomlin's latest album, "Hello Love":
On our own, we each can make a difference in the world. But collectively we are a force for good that exponentially surpasses what we can do alone. Moving together, small sacrifices from each of us can make a huge difference in the lives of people around the globe.
While the needs of the world at times appear overwhelming, we must not be deterred by their size or complexity. The most important step we can take is the very first step, and out of our abundance we can mirror to the world the heart of a Saviour who has staked his life for theirs.
We believe in this generation and their capacity to respond to the challenges that cripple hope and dignity for people throughout the world. Wedding worship and justice, this generation of believers wants to love God by loving those in need.
Follow your heart and Do Somehing Now. http://www.onemillioncan.com/

'Millions' of UK young in poverty

Click here to follow a link to a BBC News item on a report by the Campaign to End Child Poverty. To read the report itself or to find out more about the organisation behind it, click here.
The Campaign to End Child Poverty says 5.5 million children are in families that are classed as "struggling" - 98% of children in some areas.
The campaign classes households as being in poverty if they are living on under £10 per person per day.

Requests update and THANK YOU!!

It's that time of year when not only are the evenings drawing in, but schools and churches are holding their harvest celebrations and festivals. A BIG thanks goes to West Road Church and St James Middle School for their donations of non perishable food collected at their harvest festival and assembly respectively. It's really wonderful when we are joined by other churches and schools who also want to reach out and help people in our town and community who are struggling. And the donations given by West Road and St James have certainly helped fill some bags this weeks and still leave some food in the cupboards. We are still a little low on a few items though so if you do need some pointers for what we're short of here goes:

• any food suitable for someone with no access to cooking facilities
• tinned fish and tinned meat
• tinned spaghetti, ravioli and other meals
• instant mashed potato and tinned potatoes
• small packets of cereals
• small bags of sugar
• toiletries in general

As you shop please do think about Storehouse and pray about what you might give - God might lead you to give something that would be just perfect for someone. And as we give even one or two cans, it's a chance to show something of God's love for the broken, the needy, the lonely and the poor in a real and practical way. Thank you.

Requests update

I apologise for not having updated the requests last week, but thank you for all the food that has come in anyway - we are so grateful for all your donations. At the moment we are running low on the following:

• Any food suitable for someone with no cooking facilities
• Tinned meat and tinned fish
• Tinned vegetables, tomatoes and kidney beans
• Instant mashed potato and tinned potatoes
• All varieties of tinned vegetables
• Tinned spaghetti, ravioli, macaroni cheese etc
• Desserts - fruit, custard, rice and other puddings
• Small bags of sugar
• Pasta sauces
• Toiletries, especially deodrants

When we make up a food bag we try to cater for 2-3 days' meals, (breakfast, lunch and evening meal) and as you can see, that covers a fair chunk of what we're short of. If you are able to spare just one or two cans, they can make such a difference, especially to the person who is given them. When you are so desperate that you have to ask for food, or when you haven't had anything to eat for a couple of days, that tin or packet of food makes a BIG impact. And our aim is, as it says on the bags we give away, to show a token of God's love. Thank you for all you do in making that happen.

Requests update

As you can read from the stats below, August has been a very busy month, and already this week 12 bags have been given out. As a result we are right out of some items and running low on some others, as follows:

· ANY food that can be eaten without heating
· tinned meat*, tinned fish
· tinned vegetables and tinned tomatoes
· instant mashed potato, tinned potatoes
· pasta, pasta sauces
· small bags of sugar*, small packets of cereals*
· toiletries (toothpaste, deodorant, shower gel)
· toilet rolls

Your help in giving to Storehouse demonstrates God's love in action to those who receive the bags. Maybe for some, it is their only experience of a church, or even of God. It's great that we can do this and show God's love and compassion in this practical way. Thank you, and please feel free to drop any donations in at the Vineyard Centre this week, especially if you are giving any of those items that we have run right out of.

August stats

Although August is typically a month for holidays and sunshine (not that there was too much of the latter this year), this year it has been a very busy month for Storehouse. Last year we gave away 45 food bags during August, but this year August saw 72 food bags leave the Storehouse cupboards to 10 different local agencies plus some non agency requests. We are so thankful for all the food and toiletries that have been given to Storehouse and as you can imagine, they have not stayed in the cupboards for very long. It is wonderful to be able to help so many people in need, and when we are all feeling the pinch in our pockets, every one or two cans really is appreciated and truly can make a difference. Thank you.

Requests update

I'm aware that it's summer holiday time, and many of us will be spending some time away and hopefully relaxing and finding some good weather. However, as Maggie was saying on Sunday, the requests for food bags keep coming in to the Vineyard Centre. We have had a marvellous response to our food requests over the last couple of weeks, but as quickly as the food comes in, it goes out again. At the moment we are running low of the following items and would appreciate these in particular:

· ANY food that can be eaten without heating
· tinned meat and tinned vegetables*
· instant mashed potato
· rice, pasta sauces
· tea bags, coffee, small bags of sugar
· small packets of cereals
· small cartons etc of drinks
· toiletries* (of all descriptions)
· toilet rolls, wet wipes* (really useful for homeless people)

* we are right out of these. We are truly grateful for any items that you can bring in - one or two cans really can make a difference in the lives of those in our community who are in need.
Thank you

Requests plea

As you will see from the July stats (see below), we have given away a lot of food and toiletries over the last month, and this year as a whole. The result is that the food cupboards are really very low. With just 4 bags made up at the end of this week, we have no potatoes, no baked beans, no milk and no sugar. We are also really low on just about everything else, with the exception of soup, so anything at all will help. Sometimes it seems such a large task to provide all the food for all these requests. However, just one or two cans can really help towards making up a meal or a food bag for someone and can truly make a difference. So if you can spare even a small amount of non-perishable food or toiletries, they will certainly be most gratefully received. Thank you.

July Stats

In July, Storehouse gave away 77 food bags in response to 66 requests from 13 different agencies plus some non agency requests. We are grateful for everything that you have given to help support those in need of food and toiletries in Bury st Edmunds and West Suffolk - your kindness and generosity touches not only those who receive the food bags, but also the agency workers who see the difference it makes at first hand. Thank you.

Requests update

Another busy week (Storehouse has given out over 20 bags in the last week) means that we are running low on some things and are completely out of quite a few. If you use this blog to help you decide what to give to Storehouse then here's a list of what we're running low of:
· ANY food that can be eaten without heating
· tin openers, plastic bowls, cutlery etc
· tinned meat and fish, tinned vegetables*
· instant mashed potato*, tinned potatoes*, baked beans*
· pasta, rice*, pasta sauces*
· tinned fruit* and other desserts*
· tea bags, coffee*, small bags of sugar*, long life milk
· small cartons etc of drinks*
· toiletries (esp. toothbrushes*, deodorants*, soap)
· toilet rolls, wet wipes* (really useful for homeless people)
* these are the items we have none of!
As you can see, we really are low on quite a few items, and would appreciate these in particular. But please pray too about what you might give; we never know what requests we might receive and are sometimes faced with quite specialised needs, ranging from dog food to vegetarian, no cooking facilities to lactose intolerant. I remember Chris telling a story about Storehouse at Riverside Vineyard. A person came to them needing a very specific type of food parcel because he/she was extremely allergic to a certain kind of food. Before the person's need was even known about a food parcel perfect for that person's needs had already been made up. We really can join with God in meeting people's needs as we take part in this ministry, and who knows what the results might be? And whether we see miracles or whether we don't, every bag that is given out is a token of God's love to the recipient, and really does have an impact in the lives of the needy who receive them. Thank you.

Food requests update

Thank you so much for all the food that has come in over the last week. It is amazing to see your continuing generosity, especially after such a busy month through June. As the food bags continue to be given out we are running low of the following items:
· ANY food that can be eaten without heating
· tin openers, plastic bowls, cutlery etc
· tinned meat and fish, tinned vegetables
· instant mashed potato, tinned potatoes, baked beans
· pasta, rice, pasta sauces
· tinned fruit and other desserts
· coffee*, small bags of sugar*
· small cartons etc of drinks*
· toiletries (esp. toothbrushes*, deodorants, soap)
· toilet rolls, wet wipes* (really useful for homeless people)
(* we currently have NONE of these)
Please feel free to drop any items off at the Vineyard Centre or bring them to church on a Sunday. All of your gifts are appreciated and really do make a difference in the lives of those who ultimately receive them. Thank you.

June Stats

Yet again June has been an incredibly busy. Storehouse received 69 requests during the month from 12 different local agencies, plus some non agency requests. This resulted in 76 food bags being given away, over a fifth of which were for people with no access to any cooking facilities. We've also given away nappies, baby milk and some clothes. The cupboards have been very bare at times, but we have not had to turn anyone away. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this ministry, for all your prayers, your donations and your kindness. Each of you has made a difference.

The other day Julia was talking to a lady who was carrying a Storehouse bag; she hadn't been given the bag, but a friend of hers had and she liked the bag so much she asked if she could have it. In particular she loved the writing on the bag that says "a token of God's love for you". That's what you do every time you do anything for Storehouse: you show some of God's love to someone else in need. Thank you.

Food requests plea

We've given out 21 bags in the last week alone. As a result the cupboards are looking really quite bare and we have not even been able to make up the full quota of food bags ready for the coming week. We have one tin of meat, 3 boxes of instant mash, no pasta, no rice, no pasta sauce, no sugar, no deodorants, no toothpaste, no shampoo, no shower gel, and are low on EVERYTHING else. Please pray about what you might give to Storehouse; June has been really busy in the last couple of years, so please be assured that whatever you give will make a difference. Thank you.

Requests update

As we continue to give out food bags, and especially in the light of the large number of bags given away during June in previous years, could you please consider giving the following items to Storehouse, as we are running low on them at the moment:
· ANY food that can be eaten without heating
· tin openers, plastic bowls, cutlery etc
· tinned meat and fish
· instant mashed potato*, baked beans, kidney beans
· pasta, rice, pasta sauces
· tinned fruit and other desserts
· tea bags, coffee, small bags of sugar*
· small cartons etc of drinks*
· toiletries (esp. toothbrushes* toothpaste*, deodorants, soap)
· toilet rolls, wet wipes* (really useful for homeless people)

Even one or two cans can make a real difference and let's pray that as we give these items of food and toiletries, the gift and the giving will make a real difference in the lives of those who receive them. Thank you.

May Statistics

During May Storehouse received 48 requests for food bags from 9 local agencies plus some non-agency requests. This resulted in 56 bags being given away to all sorts of needy people in Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk including several bags for people with no access to cooking facilities. Thank you for your kindness and generosity in giving to all these people in need in our community, and for making a difference in their lives.

Requests update

As we continue to give out food bags, and particularly as we approach June, which for the last couple of years has been a really busy month, we need the following items in particular:
· ANY food that can be eaten without heating
· tinned meat and fish
· instant mashed potato*
· pasta, rice, pasta sauces
· tinned fruit and other desserts
· tea bags, coffee, long life milk, small bags of sugar*
· small cartons etc of drinks*
· toiletries (especially toothpaste*, deodorants, soap)
· toilet rolls, wet wipes* (really useful for homeless people)

We are grateful for everything that you give, and hope that you realise how much of an impact all the items you bring have in the lives of those who receive them. Even one or two cans really do make a difference. Thank you.

Requests update

Storehouse has given away 18 food bags in the last week and while we still have some food in the cupboards, we are running low on some items and would appreciate these in particular:

• ANY food that can be eaten without heating
• instant mashed potato*, tinned potatoes
• tinned vegetables
• pasta, rice, pasta sauces
• tinned fruit and other desserts
• tea bags*, coffee, small bags of sugar*
• small cartons etc of drinks*
• toiletries (especially toothpaste, deodorants, soap)
• wet wipes* (really useful for homeless people)

Thank you (* we currently have NONE of these)

Storehouse can only operate as it does through your continuing kindness and generosity and, as we approach the end of May, it is worth remembering that over the last couple of years June has been our busiest month, with nearly 80 bags given away in June last year. Please be assured that everything you give will go to make a real difference in the lives of the people to whom those items are given. Thank you again.

Requests update

As we continue to receive food bag requests at the Vineyard Centre, we are grateful for all your donations of food and toiletries. At the moment we are running low on a few items and would appreciate these in particular:

• instant mash* and tinned potatoes*
• tinned tomatoes and kidney beans etc
• dry pasta
• small drinks cartons*
• small packets of cereals, small bags of sugar*
• deodorants and wet wipes*

(We currently have none of these*)

Thank you so much for your continuing kindness and generosity. You really do make a difference in the lives of those whom Storehouse helps.

April Stats

During April Storehouse received 57 requests for food bags from 11 agencies plus non agency requests. This resulted in 68 food bags being given away to those in need in and around Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk. It is only through the continuing generosity of everyone who gives any amount of food and toiletries to Storehouse that we can continue this ministry, and to reach out with love and practical help into the lives of needy people in our community. Thank you.

Cooker request

We have received a request via the Family Centre in Bury for a young mum-to-be who is in need of a cooker. Any sort of cooker will do, I believe, so if you know of a cooker that is in good condition and in need of a new home, please contact the Vineyard Centre. Thank you.

Requests update

We are running low on the following items and would appreciate these in particular:

• ANY food that can be eaten without heating
• instant mashed potato, tinned potatoes
• tinned beans and tomatoes
• dried pasta, rice and vegetarian food
• pasta sauces
• tinned fruit and desserts
• small packets of cereals*, small bags of sugar, tea
• toothpaste, toothbrushes and all other toiletries
• wet wipes* (really useful for homeless people)
• Baby food

(* we currently have NONE of these). Your generosity is amazing so please be assured that everything you give really does make a difference. Thank you.

Why we do what we do...

We regularly sing Jeremy Riddle songs at WSVC, but have you checked out the whole album yet? The final track on "Full Attention" is entitled "My Love for You" and is all about how we show God that we love Him. If you have a look at the Bio section of Jeremy Riddle's website you will find out some of the inspiration behind the song. The following is reproduced from Jeremy Riddle.net and is used by permission from Varietal Records:

"My Love For You" comes, in part, from a sermon series he developed. As Jeremy spent time in Scripture, he began to see a pattern: "The things that show God we love Him are not extravagant love songs, poems or outbursts of emotional expression, but simple actions of obedience. And from what I can understand, the way God calls us to express our love back to Him is by returning to people the same things we have received from Him."

The song talks about what that might involve practically, and reminds us that sometimes our love for God is shown through simple acts of kindness, borne from that love that we have received; things like being there for the weak, feeding the hungry, caring for the poor, freeing the oppressed and standing up for the orphan and widow. Showing our love through obedience to what God commands us, and holding firm to truth and justice, and loving our fellow man. Check out the website for more info behind some of the other songs and see if the CD is available at the CD desk at church.

Carpet request

We've had a request come in from the Woolpit Health Visiting Team for a family who will be moving in to Council accomodation around the end of this month. The house has underlay and gripper down, but no carpets and unless the family can find some carpet - any carpet - the Council will have to remove the underlay and gripper as it will be deemed dangerous. The rooms for which carpet is needed are three bedrooms, the lounge and hall, but we don't have details of any sizes. The family are not fussy about colours, patterns etc, so if you have some carpet that you are getting rid of and that is in good condition, could you let us know please. Thank you

Latest requests update

It's been quite a busy week with plenty of requests coming in and so plenty of food bags going out! As a result, we are quite low on several things, with the main things we need being as follows:

• instant mashed potato & tinned potatoes
• tinned baked beans & tinned tomatoes*
• dry pasta, rice* and vegetarian food
• tinned fruit* and desserts*
• small packets of cereals*, small bags of sugar*
• small cartons of long life milk*
• tea bags
• toothpaste, toothbrushes & all other toiletries
• toilet rolls and wet wipes
• baby food

Every one or two cans really can make a difference so thank you for all the things that you give so readily and regularly.

Requests update

I'm sorry it's been so long since this blog was updated, partly because I've been away on holiday. Thank you for continuing to bring in food and toiletries over the past month; at the moment we particularly need the following:

• ANY food that can be eaten without heating
• instant mashed potato, tinned potatoes
• tinned vegetables, beans and tomatoes*
• dried pasta*, rice*, pasta sauces* and vegetarian food
• tinned fruit* and desserts*
• small packets of cereals, small bags of sugar*
• toothpaste, toothbrushes and all other toiletries
• toilet rolls
• baby food

Please pray about what you might give to Storehouse; the above is just to let you know what we're short of at the moment and remember, just one ot two cans can make a real difference. Thank you.

April Stats

In April, Storehouse gave out 44 food bags as a result of 38 requests from 10 different agencies around Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk. Thank you to everyone who has supported Storehouse and made donations of food and toiletries through March. Your continued support ensures that this ministry can keep reaching out to help those in need in our community.

Requests update

The requests over the last several weeks have had a continuously underlying theme... we need lots of just about everything. On a Wednesday morning the Storehouse team usually try and make up as many bags as they can, so that they are ready to be given out as soon as requests come in to the Vineyard Centre. This Wednesday when the bags had been made up, most of the shelves were bare. Some food came in on Thursday, but even after that this is what we had spare in the cupboards:

• No tins of fish
• 5 tins of meat
• No tinned tomatoes, or kidney beans
• 9 tins of vegetables
• Quite a few boxes and tins of potatoes
• 1 tin of baked beans
• 2 jars of coffee
• Quite a few tea bags
• Several cartons of long life milk
• 4 cartons of custard
• No tins of fruit nor any other desserts
• 2 bags of pasta and 3 bags of dried noodles
• No pasta sauces
• No toilet rolls
• Just a few small toiletries

As you can see, the "we need everything" theme is continuing, so please pray about what you might be able to give to Storehouse, and consider any of the items above that are particularly low. Storehouse today provided a food bag for a young single mum and her son who have not received any money for 3 weeks and are currently waiting to see if they can get a crisis loan. They have not had any heating for a week and Storehouse was able to help there too. These are real people here in Bury St Edmunds today that we, as a church are able to help through Storehouse. Thank you for all your continuing support - every one or two cans you give (and toiletries, cartons etc) really does make a difference.

February stats

It was a leap year in more ways than one this year; in February 2007 Storehouse gave out 34 food bags, but this February Storehouse gave out 69 bags, more than double the previous year. This was as a result of 53 requests from 13 local agencies plus non agency requests. At times the food cupboards have looked quite bare and we have used up all of the harvest food, apart from some soup, but we have still not had to turn anyone away. Storehouse really does make a huge impact in individuals' lives and it is wonderful to see its ministry continuing to grow through the continuing generosity and kindness of everyone who gives to and through it. Thank you.

Requests update

Storehouse has given out more than 20 food bags during the last week, so as you can probably imagine, the food cupboards are looking quite low of some items. The things that we particularly need at the moment are:

• tinned meat and meat products
• tinned vegetables*, tinned tomatoes*, tinned kidney beans etc*
• tinned fruit* and desserts*
• Dry pasta and pasta sauces*
• Small bags of sugar*
• Toilet rolls*
• All kinds of toiletries

Because we are running so low, we are unable to make up any more bags than what have already been made up at the moment. If you are able to drop any donations off at the Vineyard Centre before Sunday, please feel free to do so. Thank you

Requests update... and thanks for donations

After a quiet start to February, the requests have been increasing over the last couple of weeks. At the moment we are particularly short of the following:

• tinned meat and meat products
• tinned vegetables, tinned tomatoes*, tinned kidney beans etc
• pasta sauces
• tinned fruit and desserts
• small bags of sugar and small cartons of long life milk
• toilet rolls*
• toothpaste*, toothbrushes* and all other sorts of toiletries.

Over the last week, we've received donations of money from another church here in Bury, from a lent lunch in one of the surrounding villages and also from an anonymous donation through the door. It is wonderful that so many people are willing to join in this ministry, and everyone who gives, whether it is financially or through one or two cans, is an important part of what Storehouse does. Without your support Storehouse could not do all that it does, nor could it help as many people as it does - real people with real needs. Thank you all.

New bags

Towards the end of 2007 we had to re-order Storehouse bags, as we were running low, and we were told that we could also make any changes to the design if we would like to. We felt that we should keep the essential design of the bag the same as before, but we did change the font in which the wording was printed. While we were praying about Storehouse, Roy had a picture of two hands... one giving out and one receiving. We have managed to incorporate these into the bag design and, without adding anything else, we are able to convey the idea that, through Storehouse, we are able to receive and pass on some of the love that we receive from God in a practical way. We hope you like the design.

January Statistics

During January Storehouse received 56 requests for food bags from 11 different agencies around Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk, plus one non-agency request. This resulted in 73 food bags going to single people and families in need in our community. In January 2007 we gave out 48 food bags and 27 in January 2006. It is wonderful to see this ministry growing as the church grows, and it can only continue to do so with the continued support and involvement of everyone who contributes food and other items to give away. Each of you that gives even one or two cans is making an impact in our community and is spreading God's love to those in need. Thank you.

Requests update...

Over 70 food bags have gone out to people in January (stats will be updated next week) and as you might imagine, we need to keep replacing the food etc that goes out. At the moment we are running low of the following:

• tinned meat and meat products
• tinned vegetable
• tinned tomatoes*
• dried pasta, rice etc
• tinned fruit and desserts
• small cartons of long life milk, small bags of sugar*
• baby food and baby wipes*
• All sorts of toiletries*

We have none of the items marked*, and as you can see, most of the other items are things that we would normally expect to put in a food bag. It is amazing to see the food and other essentials come in week after week, and from the amount of bags that go out, you can be sure that everything that you give really does make a difference. Thank you.

Requests update plea(se)

We have received a lot of food and toiletries from you over the last few weeks, for which we are truly thankful, but as quickly as it comes in, so it goes out as well. Around 20 bags have gone out just in the last week and so we are running low on the following items and would appreciate these in particular:

• ANY food that can be eaten without heating
• tinned meat* and meat products*
• tinned vegetables and tinned tomatoes*
• mashed potato* and tinned potatoes*
• pasta sauces*, dried pasta and rice, pot noodles
• tinned fruit and desserts
• small long life milk*, small bags of sugar*
• small packets of cereals*
• ALL toiletries*
• Baby food

Thank you (* we currently have NONE of these left in the cupboards)

Open Door, Thanks

Do you remember back in December we joined with Colchester Vineyard and gave 55 food bags to Open Door in Colchester for their people as a Christmas gift. Since then two of their homeless guys have died and so they have been involved helping sort out funerals and coroners, as no one else wanted to. However, they have taken the time to send us an email thanking us for the bags we and Colchester gave them, and I have copied out part of it below:

We had a really good Christmas lunch. There was a really good atmosphere and everyone behaved impeccably. After everyone had finished their main course, Graham (the Monday Team Leader) explained that everyone would be getting a food parcel from WSVC - what I found so pleasing was the fact that, without any prompting from Open Door staff, a spontaneous round of applause was started.

In the days & weeks after, so many of our customers have commented on how kind & generous your gift was & wanted to express their appreciation. Some even commented how they would have gone hungry on Christmas Day if it had not been for your provisions.

So on behalf of both the staff & particularly the Customers of Open Door, please accept our most sincere and grateful thanks to all those at WSVC in both Bury St Edmonds & Colchester.

I would also like to encourage you in your Warehouse Ministry - and we will continue to pray that God continues to bless you all as much as you have been a blessing to others!

Requests update

Storehouse has given away 27 bags of food and toiletries in the last week and so we are in need of several items as follows:

• ANY food that can be eaten without heating
• tinned meat and meat products*
• tinned vegetables* and tinned tomatoes*
• mashed potato* and tinned potatoes*
• pasta sauces*, dried pasta and rice
• tinned fruit* and desserts*
• small long life milk*, small bags of sugar*
• small packets of cereals*
• ALL toiletries*
• Baby food

(* we currently have NONE of these)

Please consider these items over the next week and feel free to drop anything in at the Vineyard Centre if you would like to. And remember, even one or two cans can make a difference.

Thank you.

Requests update...

There is never a particularly quiet time of the year as far as Storehouse requests are concerned and at the moment we are running low on the following items:

• ANY food that can be eaten without heating
• tinned meat
• tinned vegetables* and tinned tomatoes
• mashed potato* and tinned potatoes
• pasta sauces*
• pot noodles and other packet meals
• small long life milk*, small bags of sugar*
• small packets of cereals
• ALL toiletries*
• baby food

Please consider these items for donating to Storehouse and in particular the items marked* as we currently have none of these. Please remember that one or two cans does really make a difference and if you can only give just one or two items, it makes a big impact to someone who has nothing and can go a long way to filling the bags that we need to give out.

Thank you

Happy New Year

In December 2007 Storehouse received 48 requests for food bags resulting in 61 bags being given away via 10 different agencies plus some non agency requests. The total requests for 2007 was 530, up from 327 in 2006, and resulted in a total of 669 bags being given away (412 in 2006) via 20 different agencies plus non agency requests. In addition to this, we also gave a further 55 food bags to Open Door in Colchester, so that in total we gave away over 700 bags. This is a huge amount of food and toiletries and a big increase on the previous year. Thank you for making this possible. Without the continuing donations of food etc, week in and week out, this would not have been possible. But it also demonstrates that as the supplies come in, so the needs are met, and as the needs arise the food comes in. We are thankful that we have not been in the position where we have had to say to anyone that we have no food to give them. So thank you for making this possible; this ministry of West Suffolk Vineyard Church can only function through the kindness of all of those who donate to it, and everyone who does so plays a vital part in meeting the needs of those whom we seek to help. Thank you, and may God bless you in 2008.