'Buy a Bag - From Hearts to Homes'. Thank you for your interest in being a vital part of this project. St Paul's, Marylebone is partnering with Newpin Drop-In in this new project, 'From Hearts to Homes', in response to the current Covid-19 crisis.

St Paul's Church, Marylebone is a Church of England parish in the Diocese of London (Two Cities) serving the Lisson Green and Church Street Estates in North Marylebone. Registered Charity Number: 1166375

Our mission statement is 'Connection and Collaboration'

Connection: We work with a team of volunteers to be in regular contact by phone with community members who are isolated, vulnerable or at risk. The volunteer will be in phone contact every two days with their community member. They will provide companionship by phone for those who need to be shielded from the virus and combat the mental and emotional ramifications of social isolation .

Collaboration: We will collaborate with our community members to understand what their needs. To provide free shopping and collection of prescriptions for those who need to be shielded from the virus.

1) To do one big shop a week for our community members

2) To phone our community member/s every two days to build relationship and continuity

We have already paired volunteers with one or two members in the Lisson Grove and Church Street community. The volunteer has committed to their community member (all being well)- until the Covid-19 virus no longer poses a threat.

We would love your help and you can join us in this important community network of connection and collaboration. The most effective way to offer your support right now is to offer to help towards the cost of shopping for community members.

£12 would enable a full bag of weekly shopping - getting them exactly what they want and need, instead of donations which although lovely are not their own choice or perhaps suitable to their dietary needs.

Our community members are vulnerable members of the Church Street Ward (Lisson Green & Church Street Estates) known to us through Newpin Drop-In, St Paul's Church and Foodcycle Marylebone. Church Street Ward is a wonderful neighbourhood, with a great sense of community. It is one of the most densely populated wards in London, with a high concentration of social housing. It is an area of multiple deprivation, with particularly high levels of food poverty, social isolation, mental and physical ill-health and housing concerns. At the heart of the area is a lively market which brings a great sense of community to the area. There are a number of very active social outreach projects in the area who collaborate to support those living in the local community, such as Newpin Drop-In, St Paul's Church & Foodcycle Marylebone.

The people we are reaching out to are known to us through these community networks. Due to the multiple vulnerabilities of health, age and food poverty in the area these individuals rely on the free meals provided by Newpin Drop-In, Foodcycle Marylebone and St Paul's on a weekly basis. With these service are currently on hold during this crisis the individuals are among the most vulnerable in our community at this time.

You can offer support at this time. Buying one bag, or even a few bags, would enable us to give people what they really need at a time when they need it most. Please help us help them.

Donations gratefully received: £12 (1 bag), £24 (2 bags) , £48 (3 bags) , £60 (4 bags), or other amounts, as you feel able.

Our target to reach 22 community members for 10 weeks is: £2,700