An appeal for practical help via Reverend Andrew posted 23rd November 2020

Dear Everyone,
 Yesterday, I received the appeal, which is listed below, from the UKCA club committee.
 I forward it to you because it seems, to me (and I hope to you) to be a practical way of helping needy local people in these difficult times. During the last lockdown, we did little as a parish to provide for those in need, beyond our own community. I do appreciate, however, that as individuals you were very active with phone calls and texts and emails and much more besides and kept in good touch with one another. And this was a good witness to our Christian sense of caring and sharing. It was also a recognition that, given vulnerabilities and health concerns, this was almost the limit of what we could do in a practical sense.
 Now an opportunity has arisen to respond in a practical way to an appeal that is being coordinated, in part, by the UKCA club. I won’t repeat the details but rather include the text that I have received from the UKCA’s committee. Although the appeal is written to their members, they have, understandably, widened the appeal to include communities such as ours. They write:
 
Dear members,
As we all know times are hard, some harder than others.
We had an email from Mr. Tony Theo who has a scheme to help the people not as fortunate as us.
Do you know a person or family struggling at this present moment ?
If you do please pass their names on, so we can help in any way possible.
This is where you the members can help, any canned food, dry food etc not perishables you can spare even a tin of beans, please bring to the club round the back, a box has been provided.
This will then get delivered to RSS Logistics for distribution.
You have till the end of lockdown 30th November to bring in anything you feel might help.
I think most of us in our lifetime have met someone or been someone who has struggled to find money for basic food to put on the table.
There are also some people who are lonely and as all the bars and restaurants are closed, give them a quick call to make sure they are alright.
How many of us have lost someone who has ended their life and said “I was going to see how they were next week” so let’s do it NOW.
So please use the club as a drop off point to help others.
Thank you.
UKCA Council.
 
Because the timescale for the delivery of goods is short, we have decided not to try to edit our contacts list but to send this out as quickly as possible. So, I apologise if you are a swallow, currently off-island, or a past member of the parish and wonder why you are receiving this. If you cannot contribute, perhaps you could include this appeal in your prayers and thoughts – remembering especially those who will be the beneficiaries.
 Thank you for your consideration.
 With prayers and best wishes,
 Andrew
PS Perhaps part of my prompting in sending this out comes from yesterday’s gospel! If you haven’t read it, click on the link in Friday’s newsletter.