Leominster Friendship Centre (From Hereford Times)

Leominster Friendship Centre

12:00pm Thursday 1st July 2010 in Features

Leominster Friendship Centre Ltd, a charity, has been set up to give a welcome and hospitality to seasonal and migrant workers, and is appealing for volunteers to help prepare simple suppers at Ivington Village Hall. They will take place during the early evenings of July 20, August 5, August 19 and September 2. At each supper up to ten volunteers prepare and bring along the food and set up the room before about 40 seasonal workers turn up at about 7pm. All food expenses are covered by the charity. The volunteers sit and share the meals with the workers amongst whom there are always a good number who speak English.

“When the suppers were started four years ago they proved very popular with the workers,” said Marièlle Biggar of LFC. “Giving hospitality and reaching out to strangers has been at the centre of Christian ministry since the beginning of the church. I hope Christians, those of other faiths and people of no faith who live in the Leominster area will be united in wanting to make our seasonal and migrant workers feel at home while they are with us. At the same time I would very much like to welcome those people who migrated here from other countries to get involved with Leominster Friendship Centre as we would value their input with regard to planning some future ‘international’ events in Leominster in anticipation of a good community spirit.” LFC is hoping to arrange short outings from Leominster to local places of interest. Offers of transport would be welcome and input by drivers on favourite places to visit.

At least one worker would be able to speak English. To help the charity plan these events in detail, volunteers should contact Marièlle Biggar on 01568 720470 or John Crowe on 611081 as soon as possible.