From a food cupboard in 2011 to four services in Hillside (sample).
2011
Four neighbours open a food cupboard at St Mark’s on Saturday mornings (sample).
2014
The pantry registers as a charity and elects its first trustees.
2017
A long lease on the empty chapel on Orchard Road gives us shelves, a counter and a store room.
2020
Volunteer drivers start taking parcels to people who cannot come in.
2022
The church hall opens twice a week in winter, and the library lends us its annexe for homework club.
2024
Trained volunteers start weekly visits to older neighbours who live alone.
In 2011 four neighbours noticed that the same families were asking the vicar for help every winter. They filled a cupboard with tins and opened it on Saturday mornings (sample).
We are still local and still small enough to know people’s names. Every gift is spent in Hillside, and we publish where it went every year.
Every gift is spent in Hillside, on the things on our ladder. A monthly gift lets us plan the shelves ahead.