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The main commitment of Christian
Care, which, as many of you know, grew out of a Lent Group, is to the
befriending and helping of families in our area whose lives,
for whatever reasons, are hard and difficult. Befriending can mean many
things from
chatting over coffee, dealing with forms from local authorities, schools,
doctors and hospitals, support with language learning -
it's a long list! In addition, the Sub
- Committee for the Homeless does very valuable work finding families and
others in
need somewhere to live, with all the administration this entails and the
furniture
project with its van moves them and their possessions into their homes and
very often provides them with furniture.
Several of the families have been known to us for many years and we have
seen their children grow and flourish when we meet at the various and very
necessary fun
occasions we try to provide throughout the year and for all age-groups.
Every January we have a party for children under ten, including babies and
quite a lot of parents. Together with girls from Wimbledon High School we
have games, singing, tea, an entertainer, presents to take home and, if we
can afford it, something extra for each
family.
This coming January there is to be a 'Snowman' party on the 28th at Merton
Park Methodist Church hall.
However, our general funds are very low and although we have cut our
expenditure quite considerably and have had grants and donations, these are
largely
restricted. The party will cost at least £500 so we really need help to fund
it. Almost a
hundred children and parents come altogether so to make it as memorable as
possible
is a big enterprise. If you would like to help, please send or give your
donations to me.
We also need a treasurer. Our last treasurer had been with us for seven
years
and we would like to replace him as soon as we can. If you have some
experience and
a little time the Executive Committee would be very pleased to meet you. In
addition,
the Homeless Committee is without a secretary. This involves a monthly
meeting,
taking and circulating minutes and generally enabling things to progress
smoothly. It's rewarding work and still very necessary.
We all feel that our resources of time and money are very stretched, but
Christian Care is a local charity which helps people of all faiths and none,
families who live amongst us and have very little, many without the support
of their own
families back in Kosovo, Iraq and many parts of Africa, so please give what
you can in whatever way you can to enrich their often difficult lives.
Patricia Hutchinson
Bert Hyde
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