Blessings Abound for Blackburn Ward Members through Food Bank Service
What started as a weekly shift at a local food bank has led to great blessings for members and workers alike at a food bank within the Blackburn Ward, Chorley England Stake.
Elder & Sister Hoar of Telford Ward included a Wednesday shift at Blackburn Foodbank as part of their church service mission. They were so impressed with the ethos and efficiency there that when their mission widened to include service missionaries, they knew that an assignment there would be a perfect fit.
The Blackburn Foodbank takes a holistic approach to support. Alongside the 78,000 boxes of food distributed each year, they offer financial training and advice, coaching and mental health support. Their efforts mirror many principles of the church self-reliance programme, and a recent application to the Church’s Humanitarian Aid Fund has been successful. It will allow a greater provision of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as the creation of a new kitchen which will not only provide a hot meal, but will also teach basic cookery skills.
Operations Director Gill Fourie recently attended Blackburn Ward to thank the Church for its support and to share other ways that members of the Church could get involved. Elder and Sister Mansell, who serve as Humanitarian Aid and Self Reliance Missionaries for both the Manchester and Leeds Mission, explained that the Church is seeking to support and assist organisations such as the Foodbank as they strive to help people back on their feet and on with their lives. Currently five service missionaries volunteer, together with the Elders assigned to Blackburn Ward.