Church’s warm welcome to help struggling families

A CHURCH in the east end of Greenock is helping to wrap people up warm this winter in a bid to beat the cost of living crisis.

As household bills rise, kind-hearted members of East End Parish have pulled together a cloakroom of winter coats to hand out to people in need.

It is part of their warm hub, which opens every Tuesday from 11am-1pm offering tea, coffee, food and somewhere cosy.

Sheila Murphy, one of the organisers, said: “It is lovely to open the doors and have people in to our church.

“People are struggling just now and we want to help.

“We’ve had a fantastic response to our appeal for coats.

“We also have blankets as well.

“They are needed for adults and children, no one has a penny to spare right now.”

The warm hub is one of a number of outreach projects the church is introducing.

Sheila said: “The church has a fantastic space that we are hoping to build on.

“We are looking at starting community meals as well. “We have so many ideas.” The church meets in 49 Belville Street, next door to the community garden.

Long time member Jack Taylor says their new base has been a boon ever since they moved in.

He said: “We are loving it in here and enjoying being able to welcome people in to the church.”

Fellow congregation member Martha Crawford added: “It is lovely in here and we have a a brilliant minister in Reverend Francis Murphy.

“We all like to get together and everyone is made to feel part of the church.”

Helping hands Jack Taylor and Sheila Murphy at East End Parish, where warm hubs have been organised. Pictures: George Munro