In October 2024, as part of our giving thanks for all the blessings we have, our Benefice had a harvest of tools culminating at a special service.

If, having read this, you are inspired to contribute, we are still collecting! Just call 07774 803177 for assistance.

You are likely to have heard the phrase ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.’ It has a lot of truth in it. Another, ‘Give a hand up rather than a hand out’ has a similar tone. There are always times, sadly, where we must unhesitatingly give gifts to help people today, right now. Our support of the food bank is an example of our commitment to this.

But in Octobeer 2024 we also came together to help give people a hand up. To empower them to become self reliant and create a livelihood.

So, we had a Benefice-wide collection of tools, donating through the charity Tools with a Mission. It was wonderful to have over 70 people gather at Boddington Church for our Benefice Harvest Service to worship, share cake and games and enjoy giving! Thank you to Bob from Tools with a Mission who came to collect the tools and gave an inspiring talk about their work. Thank you too, to all of you who donated items – there were hundreds of them! – to all those who helped carry items and load the van and those (hopefully all of us!) who have promised to share this wonderful way of helping others with their friends and communities.

Here’s some pictures of items gathered around the font and Bob’s van after it had been filled!

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This initiative followed on from two others held at Norton Church over the years. Rather than bringing produce, we gave tools. All were then restored and checked and sent to communities in Africa, including some to our friends in western Kenya. From hand sewing machines (many communities don’t have electricity), to anvils, bicycle repair tools, carpentry tools, basic engineering tools, plumbing tools and dressmaking equipment, a huge selection of items were collected.

With tools we donated this carpenter was able to make desks for a rural school

With the tools we gave people were able to maintain their bicycles and wheelchairs and avoid isolation

With the hand sewing machines we gave, young people learnt new life skills and shared them with community members helping many develop new sources of income

We expect to be holding a similar event in 2025, so here’s a reminder of the specific things that are needed, so that you can start saving them now!