I have just arrived home from collecting a wonderful ‘stash’ of food from the foyer of OLV church – a Big Thank You to everyone who has dropped off canned goods, home baking, bread, fresh fruit, disposable nappies, … the list goes on!

Elizabeth and I then delivered them over to St Joseph’s , Papanui, where the Catholic Youth team, & St Joseph’s Youth group were packing parcels on behalf of St Vincent de Paul – an amazing and tomorrow the Catholic Youth Team will distribute them to people on the East of Christchurch – Linwood, Aranui, and others.- as they did today.

Each bag has a some fresh fruit, canned goods, snacks,small drinks, bread, and home baking.

These parcels are going to households with no power, no water and no sewerage. – so the contents were such that did not need heating, were compact and useful.

To see these young people packing was a great sight – focused and determined!

But they have used what they have today and will need more food tomorrow – so let people know:

Home baking is GREAT – esp. if individually wrapped eg muffins, cake slices, 4-5 biscuits, slices

Fresh fruit

Salad type vegies (that don’t need cooking)

Meusli bars – even little treats like lolly pops

Bread

Bread rolls

Cling wrap – to wrap with

Keep it up OLV – we will collect after 3pm each day.

There are so many needy groups over there needing help – as well as those without power; intellectually disabled; mental health patients; – quite lost without their normal support systems and familiar routines.

One wonderful lady from our parish even went collecting door-to-door with her family and filled her trailer!