WHAT A NIGHT it was on Friday 22nd December 2023 at The 3 Pillars - Feeding The Homeless Charity at St James Church, Northampton!
Well, let’s start by saying that 94 guests were served during the evening with a full Christmas dinner, beautifully cooked by Kay, Gary and Eileen, who had worked tirelessly over the previous two days preparing food for the coming 3 days of Christmas, when if all goes to plan, we will serve around 300 people.
Then Janine set up a table with boxes and boxes of end of line Avon products such as hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, bags, and PJs…..so this along with the shoeboxes, that had been kindly donated over the last four weeks, were distributed by Rev Sue, Rev Paul and John,, so we were able to show our friends that we really do care.
WBro Aaron Day (pictured left) went on to explain.
Our wonderful day had started with a visit from the Police, who noticed the door to the church open and came in to investigate. After confirming who we are, what we do and the people we are helping, they were clearly touched by some of our stories of the families and individuals we have helped. They informed us they would return in the New Year to help us whenever they can. WELL 2 hours later 4 officers came in with carrier bags of new toys donated by Smyths Toys …..so there will be some very happy children this Christmas!
After they left, we then suddenly had a visit by the Northampton Saints Youth team all bearing gifts (pictured). They spent time speaking with both guests and volunteers, thanking us all for all what we do. Many have promised to return to help out on the Tuesday and Friday nights, so wonderful to see the relationship between the 3 Pillars, local Freemasons, near neighbours Northampton Saints RFC, and The Saints Mother Church, St James, all working together.
The origins of the 3 Pillars Charity date back nearly 8 years, when founder WBro Mick Pescod CoM was in London on a family weekend. He was shopping in Oxford Street and walked past 3 Homeless men looking absolutely frozen huddled up in a deserted shop doorway. Something prompt him to turn back and he offered the guys hot meals and drinks from nearby McDonalds, which they cautiously accepted.
Their response was one of both surprise and delight, and whilst also feeling pleased with what he had done, Mick thought what they would do tomorrow, and the day after etc? Upon returning home, he then volunteered to assist 2 brothers feeding the homeless, but they shortly after left as they couldn’t spare the time. However, he was determined to make things happen - his son in law rented him a Van - his son, storage at his business, and things very quickly built up, from seeing a handful of homeless, to many.
WBro Ged Dempsey then joined Mick (pictured above together) and shortly after they formed 'The 3 Pillars - Feeding the Homeless' (charity number 1173518) and now have three Vans, over five thousand supporters on our Facebook page and over seventy volunteers, covering different areas having started in Peterborough (more than eighty five meals twice weekly), St Neots and Huntingdon. It now also operates twice weekly in Rushden and St James, Northampton, where earlier this month WBro Aaron Day oversaw volunteers serve a record 108 meals in one night!
But as each location has different needs, that is only part of the story, with many providing tents, sleeping bags, clothes and toiletries, in addition to hot food and drinks. In Peterborough they have also worked with local agencies to house over two hundred rough sleepers, with ninety three now back in employment, whereas in Huntingdon, they also deliver over two hundred food parcels each week to vulnerable households.
Most recently ‘3 Pillars’ in St James, Northampton, now operates its own Food Bank and has been authorised by the West Northamptonshire Council to be a designated location to support the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), when temperatures are predicted to be Zero degrees Celsius, or below, for three consecutive nights.
The work continues and plans are also being made to open in the towns of Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough or wherever the need is greatest.