PARTNERSHIPS

Here at Christians Against Poverty in Carrickfergus we have been so thankful that we have not had to tackle this pandemic alone.  Partnerships have been vital over the past year and we give thanks to God that His provision has been beyond our wildest dreams. 

The regular food/financial donations that we receive from Carrickfergus Methodist church, Greenisland Presbyterian church and Greenisland Baptist church has enabled us to continue to provide local families with much needed nonperishable food through regular hampers.  We are currently supporting over 100 local families on a regular rota basis.

Over the past few years, we have also been working in partnership with local supermarkets such as Lidl, Tesco’s and M&S through the Fairshare and Neighbourly schemes. This enables us to collect fresh produce from the supermarkets that would normally be binned at the end of the day.  Due to an increased amount of excess perishable food, we decided in January 2021 to start to put this fresh produce out at the front door of Greenisland Baptist church (a ‘Help Yourself’ table) initially not knowing if anyone would actually come and take it. However, the response has been amazing as this food has been meeting the needs of many local people who are finding it hard to make ends meet.  Some locals have commented that are enjoying trying new recipes as the variety of vegetables change from week to week.

I am often amazed that people are queuing at the door of the church as they wait for the food to be put outside at 10am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. One wee mum shared that she is so thankful for the ‘Help Yourself’ table as she has 4 young children and her husband is out of work due to long term depression.  Another woman asked if it would be ok for her to take some extra food for her neighbour who had just been given a serious medical diagnosis.  I assured that it was not a problem and to take what she needed.  When I enquired about her own situation, she shared that her husband had tried to commit suicide a few years ago. She shared that things were still so difficult and as the anniversary of his attempted suicide was the very next day, that he had been unable to get out of bed and go to work due to ongoing depression. There are so many people in our communities who just like these two women, are struggling to put food on the table and deal with a family member’s long-term depression and the effects that has on their families. The pandemic has amplified already difficult situations to make them almost unbearable.

Please pray that God would continue to meet the needs of local people, practically, emotionally and spiritually. Yes, we are staring to see light at the end of the tunnel of this pandemic but the after affects will continue to affect our communities long after the current lockdown is lifted and we need to prepare our hearts to keep offering love and practical help in the months ahead.

Nonperishable food/toiletries or financial donations can continue to be left at Carrickfergus Methodist church on the third Wednesday of each month.  Or financial donations can be paid directly into the cap account at Greenisland Baptist church Sort Code 950611 Account No 70087017 (apologies to those who were trying to donate online but were unable to donated by using the name CAP or Christians Against Poverty. I can assure you that these account details are for the cap account).

Massive thanks to everyone who has continued to give to the work of CAP during the pandemic!