Celebrating 100th Baby Basics delivery in Ballyclare

Thursday December 2nd 2021

Frances Wilson, Compassion Co-ordinator with the Parish of Ballynure and Ballyeaston (Ballyclare), Mindwise representatives and volunteers from the parish with the 100th Baby Basics delivery.

Frances Wilson, Compassion Co-ordinator with the Parish of Ballynure and Ballyeaston (Ballyclare), Mindwise representatives and volunteers from the parish with the 100th Baby Basics delivery.

The United Parish of Christ Church and St John in Ballyclare hosted a special celebration on November 25 to mark the 100th delivery in its Baby Basics ministry.

All the agencies which partner with the parish for Baby Basics were invited to attend

The rector, the Rev Jonny Campbell-Smyth, said: “We began two and a half years ago as we considered as a parish how we might reach out in love to our community.

“We now have established our Compassion Ministries. This includes Baby Basics, a school uniform scheme, a Foodshare programme with the Co-Op where perishable items are given to us for free to distribute to those in need, a CAP Lifeskills programme, and most recently, a heating and lighting scheme for those in our society who cannot afford oil, gas or electricity for their homes.”

Jonny said that the parish had identified need in the greater Ballyclare area, but since Covid-19, these issues have multiplied. “As a Church family we simply cannot exist within our community and not be active in our practical demonstration of the Gospel, bringing hope to the most needy,” he said. 

At the Baby Basics 100 celebration, Frances Wilson, Compassion Co-ordinator, handed over a Moses basket and baby bath with all the essentials to Mindwise, a local mental health charity.

“I’d like to thank especially the Northern Health and Social Care Trust for their willingness to begin a pilot with us back in 2019 which has flourished into the ministry we have today,” Jonny said. “I’d also like to thank our parishioners, in particular the Mothers’ Union who help to run the Baby Basics ministry.”

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