Story #6

‘Angel at Christmas’ – Christ Embassy Barking – Emergency food for families

Joan Agyeman works full-time for her church – Christ Embassy Barking – but lives in Harlow. As the lockdown hit – and grinded on throughout the year, and then into Christmas, she witnessed her neighbour, a single parent, really struggling – she needed help to feed her family. This need was something that others at her church noticed for families living in Barking and Dagenham. Joan wanted to do something positive and help those families locally who were experiencing food poverty. Therefore, at Christmas time, and with a donation from the Pastor at her church she looked to find those most vulnerable families in the borough who could be nominated to receive for ‘gifts with grocery shopping of their choice’. Most people choose to get their food from ASDA

Immediately, 12 families were regularly helped and Joan called her project ‘Angel at Christmas’. She now wants to build on the success, and others have got involved to help her. The local council has become involved as well. Joan is ambitious for the future and for expanding her project, by setting up a Go Fund Me account with a friend so that they can establish a food-bank at the Church, and then provide gifted food to up to 500 families. She is continuing to ask supermarkets for food donations as well.

Commenting Joan said “ With the support of my Pastor, we’ve been able to feed vulnerable families during the pandemic. The church is here to help, and for me it is very important for us all to show love and help those who are in need of help.”

To get in touch with Joan: csjoan@hotmail.co.uk