Antrim parishioners go the ‘Extra Mile’ to help others

Thursday February 16th 2023

Archdeacon Stephen McBride, vicar of All Saints’, Antrim, and the Rev Peter Blake, curate, present a cheque to Arlene Creighton, Communication and Engagement Manager Women’s Aid ABCLN.

All Saints’ Parish Church, Antrim, presented a cheque for £4,200 to Women’s Aid at a service on Sunday February 12, with the funds raised through the parish ‘Extra Mile’ initiative.

This originated a number of year ago, when the ‘Extra Mile’ bucket was placed on the Churchwardens’ Table to collect parishioners’ loose change.

The monies raised have been used to fund a variety of projects including five extendable wheelchairs for Mozambique through the Girassol charity, and the provision of water filters for Tanzania, with £2,100 donated, enabling the parish to purchase 70 filters.

In February 2022, the focus of the ‘Extra Mile’ was the provision of fuel vouchers for families suffering hardship and fuel stress in the local community and this was run in conjunction with Women’s Aid.

As a result of the generosity of parishioners, the Extra Mile appeal raised £4,200 for fuel vouchers, and on February 12, Arlene Creighton, Communication and Engagement Manager Women’s Aid ABCLN, attended All Saints’ to receive cheques for £4,200 and a donation of £500 from Antrim Rotary Club.

Over the next four weeks, parishioners in Antrim are being encouraged to donate to the Bishops’ Appeal in response to the earthquake in Syria and Turkey. Following that, the next ‘Extra Mile’ project will support the Shelter Box charity which supplies emergency accommodation and tools to areas hit by disaster.