St Thomas’ Bradley in Huddersfield plan to celebrate Harvest in an unusual way this year. Alongside a sausage sizzle, fire pit, treasure hunt and shelter making they are also building a knicker mountain of new underwear to be given to the homeless and disadvantaged in Huddersfield.
Ruth Coates, a member of the Outreach Team at St Thomas explains more:
“We have had an event called ‘Easter Light’ for several years now which draws in families from the community. Our congregation doubles at Easter Light as people join us from all over Huddersfield.”
“We are hoping that our Harvest Evening will similarly draw people from far and wide, but we also want to do something for our community. Many of our church members volunteer at the Huddersfield Mission which runs an evening café during the winter months for the homeless and they give out at least three pairs of underwear a day to those in need. Hence our plan: to build a knicker mountain of new underwear. Small and medium sizes are most needed.
“We are really hoping the idea catches on – that people will come to our event and help build a knicker mountain of new underwear – but also that other churches pick up on the idea too – and help their local communities in this way."
St Thomas’ Harvest Evening is on Saturday 17 September starting at 6.30pm.
Here’s the format:
6.30pm - People arrive and drop their knickers at the church door. They will be given a treasure hunt sheet to follow a ‘trail’ returning to the church car park for the sausage sizzle and gathering around the fire pit. Sausages and hot chocolate free..
7.30 -45pm - A short service in church where we will have built knicker mountain. We hope to include a clip of an interview with some of the users of the evening cafe at Huddersfield Mission.
Donations of underwear must be new. Small and medium sizes are preferred and there is a greater need for men’s underwear than women’s, but all donations are welcome.
On Sunday 18 September St Thomas’ will be holding a more traditional harvest Festival where gifts of underwear and/ or cash will go to the winter evening café for the homeless.
If you want to know more – contact: Ruth Coates on 07905466393.