Vineyard Church Collaborates with Local Council to Support Children in Need Through Clothing Donations

Generous donations of clothing and shoes have been gifted to a local charity helping families in need across Blackburn and Darwen. The donations were made as part of an appeal to support orphans in Uganda and children in need locally. The campaign was supported by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s fostering service Let’s Foster to raise awareness of children in need both locally and internationally.

Last month, 2BR and school children from QEGS in Blackburn collected donations of clothing, shoes, glasses, and underwear for orphaned children in Uganda. The Council’s Let’s Foster service helped gather clothes at three Council buildings, which were split between the Uganda appeal and donated to children in need locally.

Councillor Maureen Bateson, Executive Member for Children’s Services, stated that the campaign aimed to ensure staff donations went to those most in need. Locally, many children are waiting for a foster family, and the campaign helped raise awareness of the need for more people to consider fostering, as well as the global need to help children in difficult conditions.

I’ve seen first-hand the difference that the Children’s Storehouse makes to the lives of people who need it the most. It is a wonderful example of the generosity that exists in our community to help people less fortunate, said Councillor Bateson.

The Council appeals to people interested in helping children locally by considering fostering. In Blackburn with Darwen, there is a shortage of foster carers, particularly for older children, children with disabilities, and sibling groups. Almost anybody can be considered for fostering, regardless of marital status, relationship type, or employment status. Home ownership is not a requirement, as long as there is a spare bedroom and a willingness to care.

Locally, help is also provided for children and families by the Blackburn Vineyard Church, which collects second-hand donations for their Children’s Storehouse. Donations are given free to needy families that have been referred. The Storehouse also has an abundance of re-wear school uniforms, working together with local school uniform charity Mums the Word.

Senior Pastor at the Vineyard, David Podmore, started the charity with his wife Cath in a garage four years ago. They quickly outgrew the garage, moved to a cellar based at St Paul’s Church, which they outgrew again, and eventually moved to their current premises in Red Rose Court, thanks to help from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

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