St Bride’s will offer hot meals and a chat
A new community initiative at a Cambuslang church will offer locals the chance to have a hot meal and a chat every week.
St Bride’s Parish Church decided on the plan in a bid to help ensure residents can get access to at least one good meal every week.
It is part of the church’s plans to help the local community as a whole, which will also see the parish seek to install a shower room and a laundry room in the church.
First, though, will be the Eat Up plan, taking place every Wednesday from November 15 and lasting from noon until 2pm.
Already there has been a strong local community involvement.
Father Paul Morton explained: “We’ve been aware that certain things are difficult for people, and food, and a proper meal, is one of them.
“We have the ability to get people together and give them a warm and good meal, so we have been looking towards something like this for a wee while now.
“Originally we were going to do the whole thing ourselves, but we’ve had support from John McPike, a caterer, and from Birrell Corrance, the undertakers, so we are we are grateful to them for their support.
“One of the nice things is that all sorts of people in the community have stepped forward and offered to do what they can to help us get this started up.
“It’s a chance to meet other people, have a chat and act as a general community cafe, along with having hot food.
“For the first week I believe the plan is to have soup, sandwiches and pies while we get an idea of numbers.”
Father Morton believes that the ongoing austerity in the country is one reason why it is important that the church does what it can to help.
He said: “Something like the Universal Credit changes are going to be a big challenge for people when it comes to making ends meet, and you have to support other people because what sort of world would it be if you didn’t do that?
“We’ve not got all the answers by any means, but we do have the resources to try and help them.”
The church will then look to take their renovation plans further forward too.
“We are renovating the lower part of the church building to have a shower room and laundry room.
“Electricity can be a big thing and can take a big part of your bills, so the idea is we’ll have a room open to the public free of charge.
“It’s not their sins being cleaned, but their laundry.”
More information on Eat Up can be found on Facebook at www.facebook. com/saintbrides.eatup or by calling the church on 0141 641 3053.
You have to support other people, because what kind of world would it be if you didn’t do that?