HELPING HANDS

Joan and I were talking the other day and we realised that we had been running Helping Hands now for twenty one years. Pastoral Care in the parish had been running for a short time and we were asked by the PCC to take over. We visited many of the elderly in their homes and also rest-homes in the parish. We found that loneliness was a very big problem. We knew that although people enjoyed our visits after we had gone loneliness returned. Joan and I decided the best way to combat this was to invite these people to a coffee morning each month. This was to be held each time at a different venue in people's homes.

We were very lucky that people were kind in offering us their hospitality. In those days we started out with a small committee of helpers, but as time has gone by these people have diminished sadly. Our elderly members decided that a Bring & Buy table would be a good idea, so this was started. The money raised was put into a fund to provide a lovely Christmas party with a present for our guests

Meeting together as we do makes such a happy occasion. Our elderly friends now have something to look forward to each month, and meeting others in a similar position and being able to discuss things often helped. On each occasion the coffee morning is entirely different, we never know who is coming and what conversational topic will take place. This is a successful way of meeting some very interesting people.

Just as with so many organisations we are finding that as we all get older our hostesses are becoming fewer and volunteers for driving cars are needed. If you feel that you are able to help, please contact either Joan or myself. We know that our LPA's have taken on the visiting of sick people and others in the parish. If you would like to come to one of these they are held on the first Tuesday of the month, starting at 10.15 am the venue is on the weekday calendar page