In 2009 the Rock Christian Centre launched an initiative called 'Helping Hands' aimed at meeting emergency needs among the neediest people in our community. The base ministry is the provision of 'food parcels' (food/toiletries etc.). The members of the Rock Christian Centre are behind the project and bringing in non-perishable food items each week. These are in a store room and are regularly parcelled up for distribution. The parcels are tailored for families when it is possible, by adding food for young children where required and a limited number of freshly bought items such as bread and milk. The main focus of the Helping Hands project is the local community of Burngreave / Pitsmoor / Grimesthorpe and the North East estates. We have started off on a small scale. Over the year to October 2011 we provided about two emergency food parcels per week. We supply a maximum of 3-4 parcels to ensure the recipients have a 'helping hand' and that they do not become dependent on our help. The first parcel also contains basic toiletries. Please see the church notice sheet for details of which items are needed to keep our stock levels up week by week. After two years of operation we are starting to build up good working relationships with agencies working in the area. It is they who mainly help us to identify the people needing our help. We are now planning to expand the Helping Hands work by joining the national Foodbank network run by the Trussell Trust. We plan to work with other churches in the area and with the local community to get more people involved and to put our operation on a firmer footing, and thereby to help more people in need. Preparations have begun and we hope to open the new Burngreave Foodbank in the first half of 2012. For more information speak to Andrew Birtwhistle in church or e-mail him here. | 
