Gifts galore as church salutes stars of the community
A CHURCH’S outpouring of love has seen awards given out to a group of people townsfolk thought were deserving of praise.
Elim Church, in Waterside Park, rounded up a selection of gifts to give out as part of a Valentine’s Day campaign to highlight the hard work of people who have been propping up the community.
Church leaders asked for nominations for “local heroes” and they flooded in – meaning the team was able to give out a different award every day for a week. The gifts given out included £50 vouchers and hampers.
Senior minister Adam Venables said: “It was really well received and we have loved being able to share some of God’s love with the town over the past couple of weeks.
“We also found it overwhelming the number of nominations that we had for the local hero awards and it was wonderful to read the reasons why so many people are considered heroes in this community.”
As well as handing out awards, the church also bought a lunch from the Picnic Basket shop in Market Place for all primary school staff, and gave out clothes vouchers to the schools to give out as grants to families to help purchase uniform or other clothes.
Fruit hampers were bought from Fresh Choice, in St John Street, and these were delivered to GP surgeries and to St Oswalds hospital staff.
Cakes made by Betty’s Tea Room were given to care home and nursery staff and a voucher for the Market Place
Chip Shop was given to the funeral directors in the town.
Families were also invited to take part in a treasure hunt across the town, and the winners were given a £50 voucher for Sticky Fingers, in Church Street.
Money was put behind the till at Nigels Butchers in Dig Street and Bennys in Compton, to pay for customers’ food.
Church members also gave out money to customers queuing outside Sainsbury’s to put towards their shopping, and they paid for some customers’ MOTS at Select-a-tyre, in Waterside Park.
They then wrote letters, which included a hand-drawn picture, most of which were from the children in the church, to all residents at the Leys Care Home in Derby Road and they also gave a gift of a voucher to either Beaumonts or Friends cafés to all individuals and families who receive foodbank parcels.
Following the project, the church is now training and planning a Covid cash course to help those who may have struggled financially because of the pandemic and they plan to announce details of an Alpha course in the near future.
To find out more, visit ashbourne elim. church
It was wonderful to read the reasons why so many people are considered heroes in this community Adam Venables