Bags of Love

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2020 - 18 YEARS OF LOVE

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We collected 600 bags in total - YES 600 (a donation that can be valued at R180,000). This was a combination from the 150 bags that were sold outside the church over 3 weekends, and the accumulated donations from the parishioners, which totaled R100,000. Maurice Bergoff representing Claremont Rotary again gave us a fantastic donation of over 30 bags.

A special thanks must go to John Kotze and his team at Pick 'n Pay, Gabriel Rd, Plumstead. They were able to supply and fill bags for us at an incredible discount, which is how we came to end up with so many.

More bags have meant we have been able to help more families and have extended the parishes we can assist.

124 x bags went to Saint Vincent de Paul Hout Bay,
125 x to Saint Vincent de Paul Steenberg,
100 x St Matthew Parish in Bonteheuwel,
100 x St Lawrence Parish in Delft and
100 x St John Parish in Maitland.

The remaining bags still in the parish are still to be distributed and will probably go to Masipumelele in Kommetjie, who recently experienced a terrible fire leaving many families homeless and destitute.

This has truly been a parish effort, my thanks go to Karen Parkin and Barry Smith, to Father Robert and Deborah and to you all, for digging deep in a tough year and enabling us to make a difference to so many families in need.

Bless you all this Christmas.
Gina Clifford-Holmes

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HOW IT WORKS

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Shopping list

The shopping list has been compiled by experts and is designed to feed a family of 4 for a week. Please fill your bags only with the items on the list. Download the list here.

The Bag of Love should be made up of non-perishable items and include:

• 1 kg x Sugar
• 1 kg x kg Rice
• 1 kg x Mielie Meal
• 1 x can of Mixed vegetables
• 1 x can of Baked beans
• 1 x can of Pilchards
• 1 x jar Peanut butter
• 1 x jar of Jam
• 1 x pack Soya mince
• 500 g x bag of Brown lentils
• 1 x Biscuits
• 1 x small box of Tea bags
• 1 x bag of Sweets

Because of the circumstances, this year the organisation is a little different and you can chose how you would like to participate:

Buy a bag

Collect a bag after Mass or from the parish office and fill it with the items from the shopping list. Each bag is min R10 donation. Please bring exact amounts.

Your Own Bag

Use your own sturdy and recyclable bag and fill it with items from the shopping list.

Donation

If you are unable to get out to do the shopping, or for your convenience, this year you can make a monetary donation to Bags of Love and we will do your shopping for you. The estimated value of all the items on the list is R300. Please send your donation to the Parish ideally via EFT to our bank account – details below.

Constantia Catholic Church
Standard Bank
Branch 025 309
Current Account No 07 169 8965

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CHILDREN

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Bags of love is a great activity for children. Let them take the list, do the shopping, fill the bags and bring them to the church.

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THANK YOU

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The fact that this is the 18th year of Bags of Love is a testament to the enormous generous and giving heart of our parish. Thank you for your support that will make a real difference to the lives of so many over this Christmas season.

We also thank Gina Clifford-Holmes who started this campaign all those years ago to honour the memory of her deceased father. Thank you Gina for your untiring support and vibrant energy each year!

Let us see if we can beat our record from last year!