St Peter / Balsall Common

Our Charitable Causes:

    

Ukraine Urgently Needs These Items:

Hi All - my apologies for the late delivery of this message the 'results' of monies raised for the Ukraine appeal concerts is that we've given £7000.00 to Roman towards his efforts in helping the situation in Ukraine. Each of the three churches that hosted the concerts have received around £300.00 each. 

On behalf of Roman, his family and the people of Ukraine, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has supported the concerts as well as giving much needed supplies. There is no doubt that these supplies will still be needed over the coming months.

Our current list of supplies needed:

Adult Nappies / (Old) Android Tablets / Battery Operated Tools / Candles (new or used) / Crutches / Gloves (Men’s) (not mittens) Hand Sanitiser. Medication (in or out of date) …Cold/Flu relief sachets/capsules / Heat Gel / Cough med / Paracetamol / Ibuprofen / Hand/feet warming pads / Men’s Socks, T-shirts / Multi-Tool Pocket Knives / Powerbanks / Shoe insoles / Sleeping Bags / Thermal Underwear Toiletries: Razors / Shaving foam/gel / Toothbrushes / Toothpaste. Torches (Recyclable) / Vests (Men’s) / Walkers / Washing Capsules/ Wet Wipes (not baby) / Wheelchairs / Yoga Mats.

For more details about where our collection points are in Balsall Common and Hampton in Arden text or call Kim Rawson on 07527 540529 or Anton Rawson on 07793 780599 for Curdworth. 

  
This week Di and I delivered the Harvest produce to Helping Hands at the Renewal Centre in Solihull. The response from everyone at St Peter’s was superb and hugely appreciated by Helping Hands.

Whilst we were there we were invited to look round the very impressive operation run mainly by volunteers. It was the first time we had seen the size of the task they undertake week in and week out.

In the last six months they have supported over 3000 people with 1396 boxes including 36000 items and they covered over 3853 miles. All these deliveries are made to people who have been referred mainly by Social Services or GP’s. Please keep your items coming over the coming weeks, especially tins of potatoes, rice and tins of pulses. Thanks everyone for all your generosity, Ted.

   Christmas Gifts needed for prisoners’ children
   at Birmingham and Swinfen Prisons:

We need Christmas gifts for all ages up to 16 which are given to visiting prisoners families and other children. The gifts need to be suitable for both boys and girls. Suggested - pound shops, supermarkets and The Entertainer are good sources. We do not need gift wrap this year - we have a lot left from last year thanks to every ones generosity.

Criteria that will be applied by HMP

1. Must be new and in original packaging where possible, obviously packaging this does not apply to colouring books

2. No soft stuffed toys or balls or battery toys

3. Must not contain anything sharp e.g. pencil sharpeners, scissors, knives, needles, screwdrivers (often found in kits!) Plastic needles or knitting needles are OK if in sealed kits as are plastic scissors.

4. No wax crayons

5. No play dough or modelling clay, plasticine etc

6. No clothing, gloves, scarves etc

7. No Annuals or diaries - difficult, as are football team items, they don’t all support the blues or Man United

8. No ordinary playing cards, card games like happy families are OK.

Ideas

1. Colouring books and pencils, felt pens, sticker activities books and pictures

2. Painting sets, colour by numbers

3. Touchy feely books, other books including card ones.

4. Puzzle books like simple word searches, mazes etc, not crossword books or sudukos

5. Construction kits – read contents - Lego fine but no screwdrivers with Meccano types!

6. Cars, trucks, plastic models e.g. dinosaurs, farm yard,

7. Jewellery like tiara, necklaces etc on a sealed card, jewellery kits

8. Magic sets

9. Games – reasonably simple – such as matching card games, connect 4 – no ordinary playing cards or games with dice included!!

9. Wind up torches, very popular with boys. Nothing with batteries

10. Sewing/knitting sets, plastic knitting needles OK, flower making kits

11. Tea sets, baby bath toys - plastic

If you have an idea and want to check it please ring me – please do not wrap presents, they wrap presents as suitable for either boy or girl in Birmingham after checking.

Thank you everyone.

Alison Bennett alibennett@me.com 07799 418601

Please Note: All presents need to be with us by the first week of December.

    
     Hats for newborn and premature babies:

Birmingham hospitals are desperately in need of knitted hats for babies. The Mothers’ Union collect items which are distributed to the maternity and special care baby units in our local area. A pattern is available to use, which is the preferred style; they will not accept anything with ties, ribbons or buttons. 

However, hats are needed for all babies not just the tiny babies, so standard newborn size is also required. If you are able to help, please pass the completed hats to Alison or Claire Laland. 

For more information contact Alison on alibennett@me.com or call 07799 418601.

To download the Knitting Pattern press HERE