FOOD SUPPORT AT ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH
Everyone needs a hand sometimes, and there are a few ways you can get support with your shopping.
A Food Grocery now runs in Valley Street Community Centre which is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am-4.30pm. A shop costs £4 and, when you join, you can do two shops each week.
If you need help with accessing this, please get in touch. There is always something that can be done, please don't struggle alone :)
On Saturday mornings, Breakfast Club runs in St Matthew's from 9-11am, offering free breakfast and friendly chat to anyone who comes.
We also accept food donations for the grocery on a Saturday morning, or in the baskets at the entrance to church during the week. We are very grateful for donations of any types of tinned or dried foods (such as soups, tinned meats and fish, tinned fruits and veg, cooking sauces etc), tea, coffee, UHT milk, biscuits, cereals, household products or toiletries. (Fresh food needs to be donated to the grocery directly as we don't have storage for it.)
The local community have been amazing at supporting the food bank which was running at St Matthew's until the grocery opened. Thank you for you ongoing generosity.
Some people have asked how they can make a financial donation. At the grocery, you can pay for someone's shop. You can donate in the grocery or online at communitygrocery.org.uk/donate .
The easiest way to donate to St Matthew's is via our online giving page. To access the page, please click on this link: https://givealittle.co/campaigns/790b598c-fe5b-44aa-950a-53c24d3563ea
If you would like more information about giving, including details of how to give by bank transfer or cheque please go to the ‘Support St Matthew’s Page’.
FOOD POVERTY IN BURNLEY
Father Alex from St Matthew’s and Pastor Mick from the Church on the Streets Ministries have done a fantastic job raising awareness of poverty in Burnley. They were extremely busy on TV and radio during November and December 2020 raising awareness about food poverty during COVID-19 lockdowns in Burnley. Articles have also been featured in the national and local press. It was heart-breaking and deeply moving to see the emotions from those working tirelessly to help people who are really struggling in our local community. There were some very moving stories highlighted in these pieces.
HOW TO CATCH UP ON THESE STORIES
There has been a huge amount of media coverage following the first BBC news story. We have highlighted some of stories below so you can watch or read them again.
If you have not had the opportunity to watch the feature on BBC national news, you can watch it now by clicking on this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-55133081
An extended, 12 minute documentary version of the BBC story has been shown on the weekend of 5/6 December. Click on this link to watch the extended broadcast. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qtq7
The Observer/ The Guardian newspaper ran the story on 5th December highlighting the struggle of many vulnerable people in Burnley. The article can be viewed here: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/dec/05/exploitation-of-the-poor-borders-on-evil-say-clerics-driven-to-tears-by-debt-crisis
Lancashire Evening Post covered the story on 4th December and can be read here: https://www.lep.co.uk/news/people/donations-burnley-charity-reach-almost-ps55000-three-days-after-it-features-national-spotlight-3057945
THANK-YOU
Responding to food poverty is a marathon, not a sprint, so if you want to help, please do not feel obliged to give immediately. We welcome help at any time, so if you can not donate on a Saturday, please pop a donation in the blue tubs at the entrance when attending any church service or activity. If you cannot get to church to make a donation, please contact Father Alex or Rev Kat to see if we can collect from you. There are still a lot of people in great need of assistance. We want to thank you all for the tremendous support and kindness displayed, it provides real hope to many of our friends and neighbours.