Diocesan News17 Sep 15

Religious Service Held at Cross–Community Food Bank

Back row, left to right: Rev Paul Linkens, Ebrington Presbyterian Church; Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good; Ms Julie McPherson, Director of the Churches Trust; Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown; and Rev Paul Gallucci, Carlisle Road Methodist Church.  Front row, left to right: Georgia Lynch and Callum Crowe of Drumahoe PS.

A religious service has been held at a food bank in Derry–Londonderry to thank local people for supporting the charity.

The Pantry Project – a cross–community initiative – has provided food to more than two and a half thousand men, women and children who have experienced hardship. The project was started two years ago by the Churches Trust, the organisation founded by the leaders of the city’s main Christian churches to ‘Stand Together with Those in Need’.

On Thursday afternoon, the two local bishops and other clergy joined staff and committee members at the charity’s food depot for a Dedication Service. Children from Drumahoe Primary School also took part, representing pupils from local schools which have supported the project since it was launched.

The chairman of the Churches Trust, Father Michael Canny, told those present that as Christians they were alert to the love, light and peace of Christ that surrounded them.

It made them more acutely aware of the needs of others and of the tremendous inequality in the world today. He said the object of the Pantry Project wasn’t to create a dependency among those who received help, but rather to offer them hope that their situations could be improved.

Speaking on behalf of the trustees, the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good, described the Pantry Project as a significant project which was meeting real need in the North West. He thanked the committee members and volunteers who collected and distributed food to individuals and families in need, and especially all those in the community who generously donated groceries to the food bank.

The Dedication Service included readings from Matthew’s Gospel and Acts, as well as hymn–singing. Prayers were read by some of those involved in working with or supporting the Pantry Project.