And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.
Mark 6: 42-43
The Foodbank at St Matthew’s Redhill has increasingly drawn its inspiration from the outcome of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Fr Andrew Cunnington has been Vicar of St Matthew’s since the day the Foodbank was set up eight years ago and he has seen it develop from a small undertaking working out of two cupboards at the back of the church to its current size where over a hundred households receive food on a weekly basis. “I have always wondered,” said Fr Andrew, “what happened to the scraps collected up by the disciples at the climax of that miracle. I never realised that they would find their way to our church in the form of so many generous offerings in support of our work!”
I was lucky enough to visit the Foodbank on a sunny Wednesday in late June and had the opportunity to meet some of the helpers as well as the people who benefit from the support. I met a number of female asylum seekers with their small children who were hugely grateful not only for the practical support offered but also for the opportunity to get out of their accommodation and speak to helpers at the church. The view from the pulpit (below) shows the large number of helpers including women from the local Muslim community and teenagers who had finished school for the term, sorting and packing bags for distribution both at the church and by delivery to those who are unable to travel to the church.
Fr Andrew told me how the church had worked with other local organisations, including the local Council, and had received Council funding to build two portacabins used to facilitate the storage of donations received. While I was there a car arrived with a bootload of contributions from another local church: the driver was clearly well-known and makes the trip on a weekly basis. The Foodbank works with a range of local organisations and this is one of its sources of strength (and finance!).
The picture above show Fr Andrew with some of the food that the Foodbank helpers were sorting and packaging that day. The cardboard boxes and plastic bags of food are not as beautiful to look at as the font or the windows in the Lady Chapel, but they are as much part of the beauty and mission of St Matthew’s Redhill.
Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
Matthew 25: 34-35
If you are inspired by this blog and want to develop social action in your parish community, get in touch with Nelly Misenga at our Diocesan Charity, Together Southwark and she can help you think through some options and the support available to you.
