"Every church should consider a foodbank" Steve Chalke MBE
In a recent moment of madness former MP Edwina Currie,
writing in a recent blog, stated,
Free food subsidises low wages; it helps support the black economy. It pauperises those it seeks to help. Like giving money to ‘homeless’ beggars on London streets, it encourages more of what it seeks to relieve.
 |
| Christ Church's inaugural March collection |
Marie Antoinette would have been proud of
her, although this Queen's famous comment was based on ignorance rather than a complete lack of compassion. For Ms Currie misses the point, that free food exists because there is a need,
not to create one. With over five thousand people in the UK being admitted to
hospital last year for malnutrition that would seem to be need
enough. In any event it’s not a case of popping along to Sainsbury’s and
standing in the ‘free food’ check out, one has to be referred by a health
professional and for three days’ food at a time, not a lifetime’s. Those health
professionals that Village News speaks to often cite, without political
comment, that it's changes to the welfare support system and individuals' circumstances which mean that families can be
left for weeks without financial support that create a need, a need which foods banks can then attempt to meet.
The Bromley Borough
Food Bank has been set up at the United Reformed Church in Widmore Road,
Bromley. Rather than stagger to Bromley overladen with your donations, you can
now drop them off at Christ Church, Lubbock Road, Chislehurst on the first Sunday
of each month between services. These drop-of times are 08.30 – 09.00, 10.15 - 10.45, 12.15 - 12.45).
And why not "let them
eat cake?"
More details are
available at http://www.christchurchchislehurst.org/new/community/foodbank
No comments:
Post a Comment