‘The generosity of the public is overwhelming’
Great response to our appeal
WITH just one week to go until charities will receive thousands of pounds to help the most vulnerable in our region as part of The News Comfort and Joy Campaign, the vicar of St Mary’s Church, Fratton, has said the sense of generosity is ‘overwhelming’.
The Rev Canon Bob White, who is running Churches Homeless Action campaign in partnership with The News, said he was looking forward to the carol service next Friday where £5 supermarket vouchers will be handed to 11 charities.
‘We seem to be having a good response with the vouchers,’ said Father Bob.
‘We have had retiring collections at our most recent services, as well as The News Carol Service last Sunday, and I think we have raised between £400 to £500 from them.’
The News Comfort and Joy Campaign, which launched at the end of November, is asking the public to donate £5 supermarket vouchers and post them in letterboxes in Tesco Fratton, Cosham, Fareham, Crasswell Street Portsmouth and North Harbour.
The supermarket vouchers, which will be collected on December 17, will be taken to St Mary’s Church for the special carol service next Friday where the grand total will be revealed. The vouchers will then be given to representatives from each of the 11 charities including The LifeHouse, Stop Domestic Abuse, Friends Without Borders, The Roberts Centre and many more.
Father Bob said: ‘It’s good to raise the profiles of these charities to highlight the great work that they do in the city. The generosity of the public is often overwhelming and I’m confident the response will be as good as it always has been.
‘It’s important to let those who have had a difficult time know that we are thinking about them at Christmas.’
With one week to go, you can still get involved with the campaign by buying a £5 supermarket voucher and either dropping it into the designated Tesco stores or send them to the Deanery Office, St Faith’s Church, Crasswell Street before December 17.