Harvest Festival

Harvest is a wonderful community moment when we get together for a bring & share lunch – this year on Sunday 30 September, 12.45 for 1 pm at St Paul’s. Come and enjoy delicious food, a glass of wine and excellent company! You’re especially welcome if you’re new to the parish. Please sign up at the back of either St Paul’s or St Matthew’s so we know how many chairs to put out.

Before that we welcome your non-perishable gifts at our morning services that day, which will be shared between:

• Winchester Churches’ Nightshelter – providing a safe and caring temporary home, and specialist support to enable people to escape homelessness and rebuild their lives
• Trinity Winchester – a daytime drop-in centre for people who are homeless or suffering social deprivation, offering life-changing opportunities
• the Basics Bank, Bar End – supporting families and individuals on low incomes with food and other essentials.

Harvest Festival provides the Nightshelter with an invaluable opportunity to replenish its food stocks for the year ahead. Residents receive breakfast and a hot cooked evening meal every day of the year. Many of the donations received are also used in cooking workshops to help prepare residents for independent living after they have moved on.

Items that will be particularly helpful this year

Food and drink: instant coffee, soft drinks, sugar, biscuits, tinned vegetables, gravy granules, stock cubes, marmite, tinned custard, healthy cereals (no pasta, porridge or tea, please)

Housekeeping items: loo rolls, toilet cleaner, anti-bacterial spray and wipes, washing powder, washing-up liquid, J cloths, metal scourers, silver foil, strong dustbin liners

Toiletries: liquid soap, shower gel, shaving foam, three-ply razors, men’s spray deodorant, good-quality toothbrushes.