Column by Harborough churches: I encourage you to look around and see all the goodness and love that is being offered in this difficult and uncertain time

Viewpoint by Rev Andy Giles, St. Dionysius Resource Church Curate

Are you blessed to have family living nearby, good friends or a caring neighbour who are willing to help if you have to self-isolate?

What happens when that person who might have helped has found they need to self isolate too, or that help just lives too far away?

Harborough Anglican Volunteers is one of many voluntary organisations willing to shop, collect prescriptions, post letters and parcels or even provide a friendly phone call for anyone in need. As a service we have seen great need in our community but also great kindness.

The foodbank in Harborough is doing amazing work, and many people see the need and donate to the foodbank by putting essential food in the trolleys found at most of our supermarkets. But there are also those who have donated money to people in need when they cannot afford to pay their bills because work has just dried up, or they are not entitled to sick pay.

I have seen great generosity, where those entitled to Government food boxes have donated them to people more in need then themselves. Where those who are homeless have had their shopping bought for them, where those who have been sick and not able to work, have faced eviction and have been supported financially to cope until the benefit system can try and relieve some of the burden.

One day I came across a vulnerable elderly lady who had no support. She had been living off what she could find in the cupboards, she had been hoping for a government box of food but somehow had slipped through the system. She had recognised there were some in greater need than her so she hadn’t cried out for help.

After she had manged to speak to Harborough District Community Hub, Harborough Anglican Volunteers were put in touch with her, and a couple the other side of town heard her need and shared what they had, donating a food box with stocks from their fridge and freezer, offering more if she needed it and cash if she was desperate. It reminded me of the story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible and how we love our neighbours (Luke 10:25-37).

But the truth is we are seeing people loving their neighbours all over town, we have more volunteers than people in need, because neighbours are helping neighbours, families are looking out for others, shoppers are buying food for those who don’t have. I encourage you to look around and see all the goodness and love that is being offered in this difficult and uncertain time.

And to remember that God also offers his unchanging, unending caring and forgiving love to all who look to him, whatever their circumstances.

The Anglican Volunteers can be contacted via [email protected]. Details of the needs of the Jubilee Foodbank can be found at https://jubileefoodbankmh.uk . Details of the spiritual resources available locally can be found on the various church websites which are listed at https://www.harboroughchurches.org.uk/churches/town.html