A SERIES of advent soup lunches organised for Christian Aid raised more than £650.
Organisers were delighted by the response of supporters, with more people coming along to the lunches, at Barnard Castle Parish Hall, than in previous years.
Three lunches had been organised by churches in the town – St Mary’s RC, St Mary’s Parish Church and Barnard Castle Methodist.
Lending his support at the last of the lunches was dale MP Sam Rushworth, who said Christian Aid was a cause close to his heart.
“When I was a child, I used to go with my mum dropping off envelopes in the village where we lived.
“That experience of delivering and collecting the Christian Aid envelopes as a child was how I became aware of global poverty.”
Prior to his election as Bishop Auckland’s MP, Mr Rushworth spent time working in overseas development and in October became a member of parliament’s international development committee.
Christian Aid celebrates its 80th anniversary next year and local organiser Alan Coustick said the organisation’s work was as important in 2025 as it was when it began.
“We have recently had COP29 and climate change is the biggest issue facing us,” he said.
“We are seeing poorer countries impacted more than we are and what we are contributing as a nation is quite vital. We must not lose sight of the bigger picture.”
In all, the three lunches raised £662.95.
