Gifts of socks with a bar of chocolate and an Easter message have been delivered to St Martins thanks to the generosity of a local church and community group.
174 socks and chocs have been distributed to people living in our hostels around the city. Pat and Richard Thorpe co-ordinated the effort, which was supported by Witard Road Baptist Church and the Rackheath Women’s Institute.
Pat and Richard collected donations fo
r St Martins at Christmas and wanted to do something for Easter. Pat said, “The support we received was fantastic. People want to give and are so appreciative of the work St Martins does offering housing and support to people at a low point in their lives. Each chocolate bar has an Easter message of hope and encouragement and go with our love and prayers for them.”
Pat and Richard are members of St Martins Advisory Board, an informal group that meets twice a year to offer support and guidance to the charity. Several initiatives have grown out of discussions held at the meetings, such as additional fundraising events and the establishment of a youth advisory board for the charity to engage with and represent young people. Chief Executive Dr Jan Sheldon said, “Ideas like socks and chocs are so simple, but make a real impact on the people we support. Pat and Richard’s enthusiasm for the work of St Martins is wonderful. Their ability to garner support from their local community is fantastic, and a meaningful gift like this gives the people we support a boost.