Reverse Advent Calendars 2023-24

By Margaret Carey

Holy Trinity Church has, for several years, organised a ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’ scheme. There’s a multitude of varieties of Advent calendars on sale, some of them involving a small gift inside the calendar each day, others with chocolate, but traditionally you just open a little door to discover a quotation and a picture.

This is different. We give, rather than receive, something. So please find a big cardboard box and put something into it each day of Advent. This helps us all to think of the needs of other people, many of whom have little or no help at Christmas, or at any other time. This year, with all household costs, fuel bills, and food prices rising very considerably, the need is greater than ever. Here is a suggested selection of items you can include:
Tinned meat, vegetables and fruit
Tea and coffee
Cereals
Toiletries such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo and soap, (but not bulky items such as loo rolls.)
The odd bar of chocolate or tube of smarties wouldn’t go amiss.

Please check the expiry dates of everything you put into your box. So, start your collection on the first day of Advent, which is 3rd December and put something in your box each day right up until Christmas. Then, please take it to Harvesters, Mossy Mile, on Saturday 6th or Saturday 13th January 2024 between 11am and 12noon.

The gifts will be sorted and then distributed to families early in the New Year. We know, from the response in previous years, how generous are the people of Hurstpierpoint, and how very grateful are the people who receive these gifts. Last year, about fifty families joined the scheme which resulted in well over a thousand gifts being given. This year, there is even more poverty and even greater need. Please help if you possibly can. If you need any other information, please email margaret@112a.co.uk.

Foodbank in Hurstpierpoint expands during cost-of-living crisis

Hurstpierpoint Foodbank have re-opened their collection service, as demand increases due to the cost-of-living crisis. As well as the Friday delivery option, that was initiated during the covid lockdowns, for a trial period users will again be able to collect food in person from Court Bushes Community Hub, Willow Way.

The Foodbank will be open for collections from Court Bushes from 10am – 12pm every Thursday. The Melting Pot Café is also open at this time so free tea, coffee and cake are available as well as cup-a-soup and toast. The Foodbank distributes food through a referral system and provides enough food for a family for three days. Alternatively, people can come down to Court Bushes on a Thursday morning and talk to foodbank staff directly. Staff understand that reaching out for help in this way can be difficult and aim to treat users with discretion and kindness.
Additionally, a new partnership between the owners of Gibson greengrocers and the Foodbank is now giving those using the Foodbank access to fresh fruit and vegetables during the trial period. A voucher will be provided by the Foodbank to be used in the shop on Hurstpierpoint High Street.

Food parcels can also be requested through the following partner agencies:
• St Lawrence C of E Primary School 01273 833229
• Hurstpierpoint Pre-School, Trinity Road, 01273 834144
• Holy Trinity Church
• Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council Trinity Road, 01273 833264, Open Monday – Friday 9:30am -1:30pm
• Mid Sussex Health Centre 01273 834388, Open Monday – Friday 8:30am - 6:00pm
• Housing Benefit Team (MSDC) • Community Mental Health Team
• Social Services

Families can contact Hurstpierpoint Foodbank (hurstfb@gmail.com) or Burgess Hill Foodbank (foodbankburgesshill@gmail.com) if they need food.

Hurst's Holy Trinity Church hosts another Reverse Advent Calendar - 2022

By Margaret Carey

Holy Trinity Church has, for several years, organised a ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’ scheme. There’s a multitude of varieties of Advent calendars on sale, some of them involving a small gift inside the calendar each day, others with chocolate, but traditionally you just open a little door in an advent calendar to discover a quotation and a picture. This is different. We give, rather than receive, something.

Please find a big cardboard box and put something into it each day of Advent. This helps us all to think of the needs of other people, many of whom have little or no help at Christmas, or at any other time. Here is a suggested selection of items you can include: tinned meat, vegetables and fruit, tea and coffee, cereals, toiletries such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo and soap, but not bulky items such as loo rolls. The odd bar of chocolate or tube of smarties wouldn’t go amiss. Please check the expiry dates of everything you put into your box.

So, start your collection on the first day of Advent, which is 27th November, and put something in your box each day right up until Christmas. Then, please take it to Harvesters, Mossy Mile, on Saturday 7th or Saturday 14th January 2022 between 11am and 12 noon. The gifts will be sorted and then distributed to families early in the New Year.

We know, from the response in previous years, how generous the people of Hurstpierpoint are, and how very grateful the people who receive these gifts are. The charity Family Support Work (FSW) provides intensive help to children and families in Sussex along with a vitally needed food bank. Churches and other groups throughout Sussex provide funding, volunteers, and regular collections for the food bank, to support people with all sorts of needs. This is particularly important during the winter months and in the period after Christmas when many families have little money to spare. This year, with all household costs, fuel bills, and food prices rising very considerably, the need is greater than ever. If you need any other information, please email margaret@112a.co.uk.