by Jenny Fox
At the local garage on Berrow Road, Burnham on Sea, the staff put up bags of groceries, one bag is titled “Something on Toast”. The bag contains, a long life loaf of bread, a tin of soup, tin of beans and a tin of spaghetti. It’s priced accordingly and put on a shelf near the counter, for customers to purchase. They also have pet food bags.
Once a week a representative of Hope, goes to the garage and picks up the bags to share at the church. The bags are unpacked and placed on the tables, ready for Thursday mornings. We have tables of food to share that we have received from the garage and local businesses. In the back kitchen we have two freezers with meals, soups, bread and food we have been given, all ready to share with the community donated by the Village Agents, local residents and businesses.
We run a cafe, providing hot drinks and biscuits and occasionally one of our church members will bake a cake or bring in a tin of chocolates. We provide a warm and welcoming space, and are always ready to have a chat.
Over the last few months, we have also given out several Bibles to clients, and translated conversations in Spanish, Ukrainian and more, or we have made phone calls to authorities on a clients behalf.
Alongside the cafe, runs the Highbridge and Burnham Foodbank, The Foodbank is getting busier, with a wide range of aged clients. We also have a Village Agent to offer help and advice, signposting people to the service they require.
Tuesday afternoon we have a Needles and Natter group, always happy to welcome new faces. Sometimes the ladies knit warm hats, gloves and scarves which we share with our community on a Thursday morning.
The first Sunday in every month we hold our community lunch after our service. Everyone is invited, whether they come to the service or not. Our members bring cottage pies, fish pies, cheesy mash, lasagne, dishes of vegetables and an array of delicious puddings. This month we were treated to some lovely African rice dishes.
Twice a month we hold an evening of board games, on a Thursday. Inviting the community in, for a hot or cold drink and a biscuit, and occasionally a pizza. Many board games are on offer, members of Hope Church enjoy a good natter and much laughter over a game.
We are also lucky enough to have our lovely community garden and our hard working gardener, Graham. Not only does the garden provide produce to share with our community and Church members, it offers a quiet place to sit and enjoy the peace, the nature or the chance to get stuck in and get your hands dirty.
