A church and community project which supports people in need has received a welcome festive boost.
Generous donors have contributed a selection of toys, chocolate, bath hampers and other goodies to Hope4AllCIC, which works to eradicate food poverty, deprivation and isolation in Pennywell, Sunderland.
Hope4AllCIC is a registered Community Interest Company (CIC) based at St Thomas’ Church, where it runs a food cooperative shop and community café, as well as hosting various social groups.
Kimberley Lo, Community Lead at Hope4All, said children’s scooters and toys were donated by John G Hogg Funeral Directors in Sunderland, while Bath Bomb Bliss had donated a selection of bath hampers and chocolates, and Nearby Taxis Sunderland contributed a bag of Christmas goodies.
“We have been well and truly blessed with these donations,” said Kimberley. “We work closely with local businesses and organisations and these acts of kindness have come from lovely people who are very supportive of what we do. It’s a great example of the wonderful community we have here and we are very grateful.
“We have already started to distribute these gifts. We speak to people who use our services regularly and are able to identify those who would mostly need and appreciate them.”
Hope4All was established during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, at a time when church attendances were low and the rates of foodbank clients were high. Since then it has worked to reduce long-term dependency on foodbanks by promoting wellbeing, sustainability and recycling within the community.
In April 2021, the cooperative Shop4All opened its doors to the public, giving residents access to a wide selection of food and drink, sold at heavily discounted prices, with supermarkets among those making generous donations of stock.
Shop members are also given access to donated clothing, furniture and household items, while every month the shop hosts visits from FISCUS, the Sunderland-based charity which provides advice around debt and emergency relief.
Growing church remains at the heart of Hope4All. At Cafe4All, the community café, people can engage with clergy members on a pastoral level.
The café also hosts regular activities such as knitting, crafts and a music, with Hope4All's Business and Media lead, Lea Mason, offering lessons in guitar, ukulele and keyboard. There is also a gardening and breakfast club.
This has been a significant year for Hope4All, as both the shop and café have moved into the neighbouring building, known as @NextDoor Centre, which offers a larger and more specialist space.
Hope4All’s Christmas concert will take place at St Thomas’ Church on Wednesday 18 December, starting at 10am. It will include festive refreshments, quizzes and singing, for which a lyric book will be provided, while Fr Lloyd Brown will deliver a sermon. Tickets cost £2 and all are welcome.
Visit the Hope4AllCIC page on Facebook for regular updates.
Photos
- Claire and Gemma (left and right) from John G Hogg Funeral Directors, pictured with Stephen Kirsop of Bath Bomb Bliss, and Kimberley Lo, Community Lead at Hope4All.
- Stephen Kirsop of Bath Bomb Bliss with the bath hampers and chocolates.
- Lorna from Nearby Taxis Sunderland with Kimberly Lo, Community Lead at Hope4All.
Picture credit: Lea Mason, Business and Media Lead, Hope4All