Lighting up lives of needy families
Barry Hyde – chair of the Rossendale Community Support Network
THIS week we are looking at an organisation that is helping those in need in the Whitworth community.
The Whitworth Lighthouse Community Foodshare is a relatively new voluntary group set up in September 2020, and is a collaboration between Whitworth Methodist Church, Rossendale, Lancashire and the Rochdale Soup Kitchen.
They are based at what was Whitworth Methodist Church but now known as The Lighthouse at 551-553 Market Street, and is there to support anyone who is struggling in Whitworth and beyond.
They have made major contributions to a number of initiatives including reacting to the Marcus Rashford appeal by providing lunch packs for children during the half term break, and at Christmas, they provided lunches for many families in need in Whitworth.
Thanks to the generosity of the local community they were also able to provide selection boxes and toys for children who may have gone without.
The group is also a member of the Rossendale Community Support Network, and as such support and collaborate with other groups in the Valley.
They are fast becoming established as a source of food support in the Whitworth community, but as a voluntary group, they rely on donations from the public and from local supermarkets, so you can help by making a donation that will provide much-needed food to a family in your community.
They are open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10am until 3pm.
During the current Covid restrictions they are open by appointment only, but food parcels can be delivered if it’s not possible for anyone to attend in person.
Email lighthousefoodshare@gmail.com or telephone 07817 150327.
For general enquiries about the support available in Rossendale, you can contact the Rossendale Community Support Network via email at rosscsn43@gmail.com