Final 'Christmas on the Street'
By Scott Neil
The last Hands of Love Ministry 'Christmas on the Street' feeding of the homeless will be staged on Court Street a week this Saturday.
It will be the 30th time the Hands of Love group has arranged for festive food to be donated and served up to the homeless people in the city.
Fern Wade, who heads the group, is again appealing for kind-hearted donations to ensure the final feast is a success when it is staged in the open area on the opposite side of the road from the Spinning Wheel Club on December 15.
She herself is getting ready to step down from the organisation and concentrate on writing a book. But before that, she and her helpers are gearing up for the "30th and final" Christmas on the Street.
To make it happen the Hands of Love Ministry is seeking donations on the day of six baked and sliced up turkeys, six pans of macaroni and cheese, six pans of peas n' rice, two dozen bags of frozen mixed vegetables and six farine pies.
Six fruit cakes and six plain cakes are also needed, as are rolls and gravy.
The group is asking for the food donations to be brought to the location in Court Street at around 11 a.m. on December 15 in order that the feast can be ready and served between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. that day.
December will, as usual, be a busy time for the Hands of Love Ministry.
Mrs Wade said: "We will also be looking to help 500 families for the Christmas holiday. So we are looking for gifts for them or money donations.
"And in January we will need blankets, washed and dry, to be given to the homeless."
During the festive season, the group also encourages people to create a "shoebox of love", made out of an ordinary shoebox that contains a toothbrush and paste, deodorant, powder, face cloth, towel, shampoo and socks. Again, these are to be distributed to the homeless.
Not content with all that, Hands of Love also aims to help 50 seniors by providing fruit baskets. Anyone who would like to create a fruit basket is asked to have them ready for December 21 or 22 and take them to the group's Camp Hill location at Warwick. Alternatively collection of the baskets or groceries can be arranged.
As she prepares for her final Christmas on the Street event, Mrs Wade said: "I'm going to be writing my book. But I will always be helping people."
Donations can be made to the Hands of Love Ministry in various ways, such as bringing along food to the Court Street dinner, or by sending donations of money and gifts via PO Box HM 3281, Hamilton HM PX with cheques made out to the Hands of Love Ministry.
Mrs Wade can also be reached on 238-7368 or after 6 p.m. on 238-2059.
