The Church of Ireland’s Bishops’ Appeal for World Aid and Development and the Board for Ministry with Children and Families are delighted to announce that £4,164 (equivalent to €4,796) has been raised through their Advent fundraising campaign – Generosity & Gingerbread – to help SAMS Ireland in its work to make life better for homeless people in Chile and vulnerable girls in Brazil.
The two winners from the Houses of Hope competition for building gingerbread houses –Eben from Offaly and Alice from Fermanagh – were chosen by the Revd Geoff Hamilton, Mission Director with SAMS Ireland and Carolina Schmidt, from the Anglican Church of Chile (Iglesia Anglicana de Chile).
Carolina thanked all who took part for raising £2,082 / €2,398 for the homeless ministry. “This gift,” she remarked, “will provide around 110 blankets, 360 wholesome meals, 150 T-shirts, and 375 toiletries packs. It also allows the local Anglican Church to plan ahead and provides real encouragement to the volunteer team. Because of your prayerful and financial support, lives are being touched and basic needs are met with dignity and care.”
Rosie and Stu Bayford, who co-ordinate the Safe House project in Brazil, added their thanks for the Bishops’ Appeal donation – also £2,082 / €2,398 – as this will allow the project to “continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of young girls who have come from exploited and difficult circumstances.”
The amount raised provides roughly 200 days of nourishing meals, 150 essential items of clothing, 150 weeks of transport to school, and 70 sessions with psychologists. Rosie and Stu explained: “This support strengthens the girls’ physical health, nurtures emotional well-being, and reminds the team here that people in Ireland are standing with them. Thank you, and may God bless you richly in the future as you resource other people and projects.”
