Christmas is coming....

On Sunday we will be announcing the start of our collecting Christmas presents for needy children. This year Sarah & Phil Addy will be in charge of this and, as in previous years, we will be provided with a list of children's names, their ages and an ideal gift for them. Anyone wishing to purchase a gift for one of these children should take the relevant tag, and then return the gift (costing no more than £10), UNWRAPPED, but with its tag attached, before the 18th December. These will then be delivered to the Family Centre to wrap and pass on to the children. The names that we are given each year are those of children from families with whom Social Services and the Family Centre work, and they are aware of their ongoing needs and situations. It may be the case that some of these children might not receive much else, so it is wonderful to be able to share, in this way, some of the love that God showed the world at this time of year.

As an additional idea, it would also be good to be able to add a few Christmas treats into some of the food bags that we give away in December, or maybe even make up some special ones for individuals and families who are particularly struggling. So if you feel like giving a few festive treats - chocolates, crackers, biscuits, Christmas puds, sweets, candles, etc, etc, etc, whatever you feel led to - please leave them in the buckets on Sundays, or drop them in at the Vineyard Centre. Thank you

Storehouse volunteers

Do you have a heart for what Storehouse does? Would you like to become involved with Storehouse? We would love to have a team of people who are able to spend one morning a week (in pairs at least) at the Vineyard Centre helping Storehouse. This would involve taking phone requests for food bags, filling bags where necessary and meeting the people who come to collect them. We would love to be able to offer people some time to chat if they would like to, as well as maybe a cup of tea or coffee, or even some soup. At the moment we probably average around 4 or 5 bags going out per day, so it won't be really busy. If you would like to be a part of this, please speak to Margaret or Jonathan. Thank you.

October stats

October wasn't quite as busy as September, as far as Storehouse requests are concerned at least. However, September was an exceptionally busy month (see earlier post). During October, Storehouse received 65 requests from 10 different local agencies, plus some non agency requests, resulting in 76 food bags being given away to needy men, women and families in Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk. A young lady called in at the Vineyard Centre today to collect a bag; she had not realised beforehand that we were there, and she was so thankful for her bag of food. The things we (and "we" means everyone who gives anything to Storehouse) give away through Storehouse we describe as a token of God's love; sometimes in our eyes that token might not be much, but in the hands of someone who really needs it, is desperate and might never receive much else in life, that token might be huge. Let's not underestimate the impact our giving can have in the lives of those who use Storehouse, and let's keep asking God to show HIS love through what we do.
Is that something that you would like to be involved in. We are still looking for volunteers to spend a few hours a week (preferably one morning a week) at the Vineyard centre to help fill food bags, take requests and meet the people who come to collect the bags. If you would like to get involved in this please let the office know, or speak to someone on the team. (Or even leave a comment here). Thank you

Requests update

As we receive food from several local schools' and churches' harvest festival celebrations, we are currently well stocked on some items, but still rather low on others. At the moment we particularly need the following:

• small cereal packets
• long life milk (we have none left)
• toiletries, especially deodorants & toothpaste
• any food that can be eaten by someone with no access to a cooker or kettle

Thank you for your continuing support and ongoing generosity with your involvement in Storehouse. As you give to this ministry, you reach out with compassion to those in need and show them that they are not forgotten, that God's love can reach them wherever they are. Thank you, and may God bless you.

As September was such a busy month, that meant that the Vineyard Centre staff have been very busy assisting with Storehouse requests. We would love to be able to have a team of people at Storehouse who are able to spend a morning a week taking the phone calls from agencies and also giving out the food bags, whether they are to agencies' staff or clients. If this is something that you would like to be involved in, please speak to one of us. Thanks.

September stats

September was an incredibly busy month for Storehouse, by far the busiest month we have ever had in fact. During the month we received 102 requests from 15 different agencies plus some non agency requests. These requests resulted in 118 food bags being given away to needy people in and around Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk. At times the stock of food was very low, but thankfully we didn't have to turn anyone away. Thank you for your amazing generosity through this very busy month - each one of those 102 requests has been met, and each bag will have made a real difference in the lives of the person or people who have received it. We do this, not only to make a difference in those lives, but we also believe that we are helping those people that are on God's heart - the poor and needy whom he has always cared for, and whom he wants us to care for too. In this way, each tin or packet that is given to Storehouse goes to help in this Ministry for God, as we show his love to those in need. Thank you.

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.