Churches and groups working together to help the community

East Renfrewshire Good Causes Store received an early Christmas present, by way of donated toiletries and groceries from Broom Parish Church and local choir Sounds International.
Andrew Smith, manager of the ERGC Store; Alison Marshall, from Broom Church; and Russell Macmillan, founder of ERGoodCausesAndrew Smith, manager of the ERGC Store; Alison Marshall, from Broom Church; and Russell Macmillan, founder of ERGoodCauses
Andrew Smith, manager of the ERGC Store; Alison Marshall, from Broom Church; and Russell Macmillan, founder of ERGoodCauses

The Broom Parish Church congregation ran a reverse advent calender with groceries and Sounds International performed a concert where guests and choir members were encouraged to donate toiletries.

All these products were delivered to Maxwell Mearns Castle Church in Newton Mearns, who provide free storage space to allow ERGoodCauses to distribute these goods throughout the year.

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Russell Macmillan, founder of ERGoodCauses, said: “It is lovely to see groups and churches coming together to support the work we do throughout the year, and I would like to thank all the many contributors who provided this excellent mountain of care, that we will use to love our neighbours in line with the true meaning of Christmas.

“I was personally very shocked to discover that there are more than 250 homeless cases every single year in East Renfrewshire, caused by many different reasons, from redundancy, family breakdown, excessive debt, domestic abuse to name just a few.

“This explains why the councils need to have a stock of more than 60 temporary flats/houses spread throughout the area, where homeless people stay while waiting to find a permanent home of their own.

“By working alongside the housing departments homeless team and other frontline professionals, we will show many people that our community does care about them.”