Redeemer Central
Farmbox | Run for Refuge
We are running the Mourne Way Marathon and Cycling The North Down Coastal Challenge to support families, who are seeking asylum, to benefit from a life-enriching retreat at Corrymeela’s Ballycastle Centre.
Story
Overview
The Corrymeela Community is committed to overcoming divisions of us and them. Partnering with Redeemer Central, a church in Belfast City Centre, we want to welcome a group of families to Corrymeelas residential centre in Ballycastle this summer. The church links with families who are seeking asylum in Belfast through their Farmbox project which supplies fresh fruit and vegetables to people living in poverty.
Last year we ran a residential weekend away together to relax and connect through crafts, beach walks, music, and other family-friendly activities. We had a wonderful time learning how to live together well - sharing hope and a future.
Our Target
We have a number of targets we would love to reach with your help!
Target 1 | Reach £3k | This will go towards the cost of bringing families on a residential weekend at Corrymeela this summer.
Target 2 | Reach £4k | This will provide fresh produce and food vouchers to support 2 families for a year through our Farmbox Community.
Target 3 - Reach £5k - This will provide fresh produce and food vouchers to support 2 families for a year through our Farmbox Community.
Target 4 - Reach £6k - This will provide fresh produce and food vouchers to support 2 families for a year through our Farmbox Community.
The Story of Farmbox
Farmbox began in 2014 with the idea of providing long term support to individuals and families seeking asylum. As many of you will be aware, this process is often very stressful, but also long. We did not want to replicate some of the great services such as food banks.
Therefore, we set the aim to be able to provide regular support and with fresh produce for as long as it would be needed. As time has gone on we have recognised the importance of choice and dignity in this and so have also provided food vouchers so that families can purchase food when they want and to ensure the food would be as fresh as possible for them.
Farmbox is more than providing food. It's about community and support and being able to respond to needs as they arise.
It became clear over a year ago from speaking with families that many would benefit from a break - a holiday - in order to recharge and provide some much needed respite. On a very human level this is something we all can recognise and testify to the benefits this has on our mental and physical wellbeing.
In partnership with Corrymeela, we planned a weekend away together. Suffice to say, it was an amazing time for everyone, and it was clear by the end of the weekend people were keen to do this again next year!
So, here we are in 2024 planning another weekend residential for the summer and we need your help to raise funds for the weekend away.
