16-12-2022

Christmas appeal 2022.

Click the image to step through the pictures.

As we look back over the 4 years that we have been Supporting St Margaret Mary's church in Park Gate it is interesting to see how it has developed.

2019 - We agreed to donate a month's “Tea Boat” money and rounded it up to hand over £100. We drink a lot of tea and coffee not to mention the biscuits!!

2020 - As we all recall with the restrictions imposed by Covid the tea money was well down so we decided to ask members to make a donation. The problem was then collecting it as we were restricted to daily exercise only. Once we had a list of members who were making a pledge we looked at the post codes and used volunteers to collect from similar areas while doing their daily exercise. It took a bit of organisation but we raised a very creditable £500!

2021 - Was almost back to normal so more members took part and we raised a fabulous £700! This was very well accepted as many people had lost their job or were furloughed so the demand for help was high!

Little did we know what was round the corner.

2022 - Putin decided to attack Ukraine and wow! This caused inflation to rocket, various food shortages and petrol prices to hit almost £2 a litre. This has obviously inflicted even more hardship on a larger number of families, so much so that the church had to close their list at just under 100 or they would not be able to cope and that really hurt! In true character the members of Fareham Men's Shed once again “dug deep” to support our local community and raised an incredible £800 plus another £80 through gift aid. This will supply a bag of relief and happiness to about 16 local families.

Here is a copy of the email we received from the church:

Dear Chris,

On behalf of the members of St Margaret Mary SVP, and the families of the local community who will receive a hamper this year, please accept my sincere and heartfelt thanks for the kind and generous donation that The Men's Shed of Fareham presented to me on Friday morning. Your donation will allow us to buy much-needed food and household items for about 16 families, who are struggling and vulnerable in these very difficult times.

We very much appreciate your offer of assistance with delivery of, and possibly with shopping for, the hampers. I'll keep in touch with you and Milton regarding the specific arrangements.

Wishing you and the members of The Men's Shed and your families a very happy and blessed Christmas.

With kind regards

Gaye

SVP St Margaret Mary, Park Gate

The accompanying pictures show our members making deliveries to some of the local schools

In the words of Bob Cratchit A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us all!”

Author: Chris Hodgson