As usual at Harvest we will be asking for food and toiletries for the Homeless. Most of it goes to the Simon Community who go out with vans every night feeding people they find on the streets with soup, sandwiches and so on. They also have hostels where they provide meals for the residents and the newly housed who still need support. You can learn more about their work at www.simoncommunity.org.uk So their needs are pretty all-embracing when it comes to food: large or small tins and packets, fresh fruit and vegetables (so long as it won’t go off before they can collect it), tea, coffee etc. They also need basic toiletries – toothbrush and paste, soap, toilet rolls, shampoo, small packets of tissues.
But it’s not just those on the street who need food. Foodbanks are springing up around the country providing basic goods for people who do have a home but once they’ve paid the rent and utilities don’;t have money left to feed themselves and their children. There’s one in Camden Town camdenfoodbank.org.uk and CARIS Haringey also run one so we may take some of our Harvest gifts to them this year as well.
On the whole buying the exotic – whilst very generous – is perhaps less useful than spending an equivalent sum on basics. And please, if it’s something you’ve had in the cupboard and never used, check the use-by date before you bring it!
Gifts can be brought to the church on Saturday 28th September for adding to the display or to the Harvest Festival Service on Sunday 29th
Harvest Gifts