Parishioners at Christ the King Church in Grangemouth are serving up lunch to lend a helping hand as a response to the cost of living crisis.

They launched a Saturday Lunch Club in the church hall in Drummond Place tp provide hot food in a warm and welcoming space.

Parishioner Clare Murray said: "I was really conscious of the cost of living crisis and the need to do more to support people in need.

"The Church is really essential to the community. It was an idea we had a couple of months ago and when we mentioned it to Fr Benedict Umeohana he was happy to support it.

"We have fantastic facilities so we thought it would be the ideal space to do what we can to help by providing soup and a sandwich in a warm space."

Already 18 people from the Church and wider community have come forward to volunteer, and there have been kind donations.

Clare added: "We received a £200 donation from the Falkirk Celtic Supporters Club to pay for the first few weeks of food and we have other donations lined up as well. Word is getting out."

Hot meals

Similar initiatives have started in other parts of the Archdiocese.

St Pius in Kirkcaldy welcomes people every second Tuesday 2:00pm-4:00pm for tea/coffee, cake and a chance to have a blether in a warm, welcoming space.

St Mary's in Leslie has a similar drop-in initiative that takes place every Monday from 2:00pm-3:30pm

At St Margaret's Church in Dunfermline, a 'Bonnie Brew' initiative is set to be launched on 28 November, taking place each Monday from midday to 4:00pm.

It will provide a hot meal and refreshments, puzzles and crafts in a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

In South Queensferry a Connections Corner initiative has been started at Queensferry Parish Church, part of the Warm Welcome inititaive in the town.

Participants include the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP), Queensferry Library, Dalmeny Kirk and Priory Church.

It provides cake, coffee and conversation along with board games and magazines. Opening hours are Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am-2pm.

SSVP

The SSVP continues its year-round outreach in many parishes in the Archdiocese, including the Fife Furniture Project, which provides, furniture, white goods and more to households for free.

Haydn Carr-Pollock, from the SSVP, said: "Our St Michael's Conference in Linlithgow, in co-operation with West Lothian Foodbank, held a fundraising event for the foodbank a couple of weeks ago, raising £1,500.

"In Bathgate, the SSVP conference donated £300 so that three Ukrainian children could be provided with clothes and footwear for winter.

"That's just a couple of examples of the work that goes on in the Archdiocese by the SSVP."

Haydn will begin his role as Archdiocesan SSVP President on Monday 14 November.

Outgoing President Richard Steinbach said: "I am sure you will join me in wishing Haydn all the best in his new role, as he finds his feet, getting to know everyone. With God's Grace, and the Holy Spirit watching over him, he will take the Society forward in 2022 and beyond."

Does your parish run initiatives to help those in need? Let us know. Contact matthew.meade@staned.org.uk. Cost of living crisis - resources here.