Vicar urges people to give generously to ‘needed’ food bank

St Andrew’s Church in The Drive, Ilford, is collecting for the Redbridge Food Bank, which supports people from all over the borough.

The church’s Famine Relief Fund is also collecting money to give to charities working overseas including Medecins Sans Frontieres, a humanitarian organisation which sends doctors and nurses to war-torn and developing countries.

Rev Marie Segal said: “We’re encouraging people to think about the harvest appeal. If you get buy one get one free, give the free one to the appeal.

“The food bank has grown so much in importance. We pray that they are not needed but because they are, let’s give as generously as we can and as often as we can.”

While the harvest appeal is the biggest intake of donations during the year, Marie said it was important to donate as regularly as possible.

“If you only bring a couple of tins a week, it all helps,” she said.

The church’s harvest weekend events will also be raising money for its famine fund, which was originally started in 1985 to help those affected by famine in Ethiopia.

Since then, it has raised more than £100,000 for causes all over the world.

The church is hosting a barn dance and harvest supper on Saturday September 27 for the fund.

Marie said famine fund chairman John Manuel and treasurer Roger Norwood were keen to donate to organisations because of what they did, rather than only donating to Christian charities.

“They really try to make sure that all the money goes directly to the people,” said Marie.

Tickets for the barn dance cost £5 and are available by calling Marie on 0208 554 9791.

Anyone wishing to donate to the food bank or the famine fund can drop into the church on Sundays or Wednesday mornings.

They can also bring items to the church’s open day on Saturday September 20, marking the centenary of the Diocese of Chelmsford.

The free event will run between 2pm and 5pm, with displays and a treasure trail to show the church’s “hidden treasures”.