Dear alI
I know many of you are wondering how, along with prayer, we can do our bit to help the situation in the Ukraine and the refugees coming out. I thought I should share this with you.
Last week in Smalley, a collection was made of consumable toiletries and delivered to a refugee charity in Derby. They welcomed people’s generosity but explained that ‘Sending food and meds across the EU is highly complex even for experts and nigh on impossible for hugely mixed loads of generous donated items. It is better to donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal because they coordinate the need with items, they bulk buy and in local currency so get more for their money and support the local community who are supporting the refugees. It also relieves the storing and sorting pressures.’she added ‘I don’t like saying this as people are just being lovely and it is wonderful but i also know you want your help to get through. It is so heartwarming to see what everyone wants to do and is doing – please spread the word.’it does seem that if we want to give it is best to do so Via the DEC and here is the link you can follow to do so. https://donate.christianaid.org.uk
If I may make a suggestion – rather than make a big one off payment – a commitment to a smaller monthly payment may help them plan more effectively. – there is a choice on the website to do both. Should you wish to buy the odd item (consumable toiletries) when you shop and keep at home – we hope to build links to the charity and when they have a need we can arrange a collection. But this is not the moment for donating large quantities of items.
The other thing that we can do is to make part of lent a commitment to reducing our use of gas or oil. Everyone across Europe needs to do this. An ‘Energy Fast’ if you like for Lent – and one to take forward beyond Easter …. I’m sure many of you have started this already and will have good tips you could share about how to do it, but off the top of my head…
- check that you need to travel and if you can’t do it by public transport check to see if others need a lift.
- put on another sweater before turning up the thermostat – or indeed put on one and turn it down. Long johns are brilliant!
- wear a hat inside!
- Check what you are buying hasn’t travelled too far – and if it has – use less of it.
- Eat less meat and dairy and buy local!
Yours about to sit down to a cup of sadly weak tea!
Kate (Rector)