March stats & requests update

During March, Storehouse received 51 requests from eleven local agencies and some non agency requests. This resulted in 63 food bags being given away during the month to help support people in need in and around Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk. There has been a steady and good supply of food coming in, so thank you to everyone who has donated food and toiletries over the past month - it is your kind donations that have filled these bags and shown the recipients a practical example of God's love for them. If you read through the Bible, from the Old testament through the New, you will find again and again God declaring and demonstrating his care and compassion for the poor, and his will that his people should do the same. As you give just one or two cans, you are demonstrating that love for the poor that God desires, reaching out to the disadvantaged, the downtrodden and the demoralised. May God bless you as you bless others.
We try and fill each bag with a variety of food to give the recipient enough for breakfast, lunch and dinner for two or three days. At the moment, we are running low on the following items and would appreciate these in particular:

• tinned meat*
• tinned veg, esp mixed veg, tinned tomatoes, kidney beans
• pasta* and pasta sauces*
• tinned fruit and other desserts
• long life milk
• toiletries of all sorts, especially toothpaste*
• tin openers

*we have run right out of these items at the moment.

Thank you so much for all you give. It is wonderful that this ministry is so well supported by so many people. Please feel free to bring items other than those above, and please also feel free to drop them in at the Vineyard Centre during the week, as well as at our Sunday morning celebration at St James' Middle School. Thank you.

February stats

During February Storehouse received 37 requests for food bags from 13 different local agencies plus some non agency requests, resulting in 47 food bags being given away. Whilst this is fewer bags than in 2008, it is wonderful to be able to meet these needs. Each bag makes a difference to the person or people receiving it, and each can or box that you give goes into making that difference. It can make a difference too to you; as John Wimber said once, "What an awesome opportunity we have to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We must never forget the poor and the oppressed among us. For when we give ourselves to others, our own healing will be waiting." So thank you for all your continuing donations. We are still running a bit low on some items that we would particularly appreciate at the moment as follows:

• tinned potatoes and instant mashed potato
• tinned vegetables
• tinned tomatoes
• pasta sauces
• tinned fruit and other desserts
• toiletries, especially toothpaste*, body wash*, shampoo*
• plastic bowls, cutlery etc - for use by people with no cooking facilities

We are grateful for everything that is given to Storehouse and it is wonderful that we are able to meet all of the needs and requests for food and toiletries that come to us. Storehouse really is the ministry of the whole of West Suffolk Vineyard, and even beyond; it continues to give as it continues to receive from everyone who supports it. Thank you for your continued kindness - may you be blessed as you bless those in need in our community.