As we draw towards Mothering Sunday, I can’t help but think that one of the hardest things for a mother must be not to be able to feed her family. I am so often struck by the posters which appear at bus stops which say “I often miss a meal so that my children can eat”, and it is usually mothers who are quoted as saying this.
Many children here in Britain now rely upon the food that they receive at school to ensure that they are properly fed. This is very reminiscent of the situation of our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe where the school feeding projects that we will hear more about next week are so important. When it is the school holidays, families find it hard to make sure that everyone has enough to eat. But it is not only feeding pupils that is necessary. School holidays are the times when children’s reading skills can decline and help is needed in regard to this, too.
So, in 2016 Together Southwark began the Lunchbox Libraries where children can come and receive a hot lunchtime meal and a dessert, practise their reading and take part in fun activities. Their parents or carers are encouraged to stay as this helps with bonding and with the children’s reading skills.
In recent times because of the effects of the pandemic, families have been especially challenged as they have had to make the choice between paying the rent or feeding their families. This has meant that there is no money for activities. The activity bags which Together Southwark has distributed have been a great help in keeping the children occupied. Books can be borrowed to read at home and some children have also received books as gifts.
One mother said, “My eldest child’s reading levels went up from three before lockdown to eight once school restarted after the first lockdown and they got a lot of praise for this from the school.”
One of the Lunchbox Libraries takes place at St Katharine with St Bartholomew, Bermondsey and in the video below one of the volunteers and The Revd Egerton Gabonda, the Assistant Priest at St Katharine’s, talks about their experience.
In total, there are nine Lunchbox Libraries in the Diocese of Southwark and we are so pleased to be able to offer this practical help to so many families. Another of the Lunchbox Libraries takes place at St George, Camberwell and two volunteers from there talk with Nelly Misenga, the Together Southwark worker, about the effect of the service in their area.
Please do pray for the work of the Lunchbox Libraries, especially as we think about those who are our mothers or who have been like mothers to us as they take so much of the burden of making sure that there is food for the family. You might like to use this Lent Call prayer:
Creator God,
we give thanks for all that you have given to us.
We pray for those who are experiencing food insecurity.
in the places featured in the Lent Call and elsewhere.
Help us to show compassion for them.
Give us the will to work with others to help to bring about change.
Help us to show our care and concern for those around us who are in need.
Bring justice and fullness of life to all your people.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amen.
Next week we will be thinking about the needs of our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe and how they are trying to deal with their food insecurity. Right across the world people find themselves without enough to eat and in need of help at this time. Please think and pray about whether you can give to support the work of the Bishop’s Lent Call this year as it seeks to help those who are most in need. Thank you.
