Families turn to Manor Court Baptist Church for help

Hard-up families are turning more and more to a church for hand-outs to make ends meet.

Harsh economic times are hitting homes in Nuneaton.

One-parent families right through to the self-employed are having to ask for food parcels from the community-minded Manor Court Baptist Church.

Elders from the Manor Court Road-based chapel have seen giveaways increase threefold since they decided to help the district’s less fortunate with their innovative that started four years ago.

Now more than 100 food parcels a month are being collected from the twice-weekly open-house sessions from the Nuneaton community hall, also home to a debt counselling service.

Carole Sparkes, the church’s community co-ordinator, said: “When we began this operation we had six people a week needing food parcels - that has risen to around 20 now.

“More families in the area are struggling - hit by the ongoing recession and state of the national economy which is seriously affecting people.

“We’ve noticed a big difference this year - with even the self employed coming to us for help”.

The community hall, on the side of the mid-19th century church building, hands out the parcels on Mondays and Thursdays from 10.30am to 12noon as well as providing tea, coffee, toast and soup for visitors.

The gift aid packs provide enough food to last a family three days - made up of breakfasts, snacks, main meals, treats and beverages.

The food parcel scheme has been underpinned by a £60,000 refurbishment of the community hall’s kitchen - with a stainless steel theme throughout.

Nuneaton Carnival Queen, Dawn Haffner, handed over a £120 gift from the 2012 event’s collections to the church to buy a stainless steel trolley for the new kitchen.

“We are very grateful for the carnival committee’s help,” added Mrs Sparkes. “Their money always helps the smaller organisations who often miss out from the big charity events.

“At this church it’s not all about religion but we see ourselves in a community role - helping those who have fallen on hard times.”