Unsung church hero Sue REACHes out to children
ACOMMUNITY star who has been keeping kids entertained for 15 years has been presented with an unsung hero award.
Passionate churchgoer Sue Ross, of Garfield Street, Accrington, prevailed in the search to reward acts of kindness during the pandemic.
She has picked up a £500 voucher for free electrical work from competition organiser and electrician Jamie Parker - plus a certificate from Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe.
Jamie and Sara attended Trinity Community
Church, Accrington to meet Sue, a member of the church’s Reach Each Child For Him (R.E.A.C.H) group.
Mum-of-two Sue puts together hand written quizzes, word searches, stories and goodies, and delivers them in bags in all weathers every week for more than 170 children in the Woodnook community.
She puts together the packs with help from her 85-year-old mum Audrey Doyle, who Sue visits in Fleetwood every Friday - getting up at 5am and catching three buses.
Sue, 59, said she regarded herself as the ‘seed sower’ introducing Jesus to families as part of church outreach. She told the Observer: “Every child should have a Kidz Klub in a Bag. It’s a weekly thing and it gets the church and some of us out in the communities meeting people. You hear the children running to the door and saying ‘It’s here’. It’s designed for children from four to 12 years old, but some have it older than that. I’m on the second generation now.”
Reflecting on her prize, she said: “It’s a team effort, and there are other people who take part, doing things like the printing. But it’s come in handy because I’m having my kitchen refurbished!”
Matt Schofield, branch manager at Yesss Electrical wholesalers in Burnley, has also offered to supply the materials for the work after being inspired by Sue’s story.
On the journey to her mum’s Sue takes bags full of craft works to put together for the children and brings them back home on Sunday. R.E.A.C.H. allow Sue to use their paper and printer to copy and print the worksheets off. Sundays are spent at the church, where she stays behind to serve tea and coffee, then washes up after the service. On Monday mornings she helps out feeding the homeless and anyone else who needs food with breakfasts in the community hall. Thursdays are for deliveries around the local areas where she does the same route every week.
Jamie said: “For 15 years, Sue has been delivering Kidz Klub in a Bag to children in the Accrington community. A seven-day week is spent helping people every day, each week the same, life so organised which she says is down to her having autism, which, to me, makes receiving this gift that bit more special.
“When I asked her what her hobbies are she said ‘Doing this is my life’. I genuinely think it couldn’t have gone to anyone more deserving.”
MP Sara said: “This week I had the pleasure of meeting Sue who dedicates so much of her time to the children around the Woodnook area.
“Before and throughout the pandemic, she has continued doing the bags for children and now does this for around 170 children. Her passion and dedication to this shone and she really did deserve this. She is definitely an Unsung Hero!”