Supporting Others
Collections for Local Missions
Members of the congregation are collecting food and clothing items for a number of locally-based charities.
There are usually special collections for Winter and Christmas. Non-perishable food items are welcomed by many of the people who have to rely on these and other charities for basic needs. Warm clothing is particularly needed for winter collections.
Our volunteers collect the bags from the church and deliver them to Parramatta Mission and to Exodus Foundation at Ashfield.
Relay For Life
The 2024 run will be held
9am 18th May to 9am 19th May.
Relay is a fun and moving experience that raises vital funds for the Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services.
This will be the 23rd year that the Hills community has taken part.
Thanks to all those who have participated in this event, either sponsoring or running (or walking) around a track for as much of the 24 hours as they could manage. It is always a very successful fundraiser for the Cancer Council.
Our team supports the Hills Relay, which raises significant funds to add to the total.
Survivors and carers lap is at 10am followed by a special morning tea.
There is all-day entertainment on the main stage, stalls food and a coffee cart.
Candlelight ceremony of remembrance is at 6pm.
Sunday morning is dog day.
For more information see their website at https://relayforlife.org.au/event/hills-2024/home
Knitting for Wrap With Love
Members of the congregation have been participating in this project for a number of years, knitting squares and sewing them into blankets for distribution around the world.
This project is ongoing all year, especially over the winter months. The wraps form part of the Australia-wide organisation which has been in operation for over 25 years and so far has distributed over 440,000 wraps around the world and in Australia. Over 30,000 wraps are now distributed each year.
There are photos below showing some of the places where the wraps are being distributed.
Knitting yarn and instructions for size of squares are available - see Heather Smith.
Wrap with Love is an Australian organisation which has been operating since 1992. It uses the motto 'Cold humanity is our concern, people caring about other people.'
For more information see their website at wrapwithlove.org
Hawkesbury's Helping Hands
The Hawkesbury region of Sydney, just to the North-West from Wesley Church, has had to endure bushfires, and then a number of successive flood events in recent years, while also coping with interruptions and lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hawkesbury’s Helping Hands was established in 2011 by Cassidy Strickland, then 8, who after witnessing a hungry man rummaging through her family bin for food, decided to do something and that food and dignity was something she could try and help with and so along with her mum Linda, HHH was born.
Since then, every day of the week, Hawkesbury's Helping Hands Inc has supported those experiencing homelessness or at risk homelessness. Providing love, care, kindness, food, toiletries, clothing, shoes, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, swags, pet supplies also advice on services available and if possible, support with accommodation. Free meals are served Saturday and Sunday evenings in a local park. To date over 500,000 meals have been served.
They also work alongside and support many other charities and organisations, and work closely with numerous agencies, who often refer their clients to them.
Wesley's John Peberdy (right), presenting a $20000 cheque to HHH members at their warehouse, 2021
Uniting Church Stamp Collection
The Uniting Church has been collecting stamps for forty years.
Stamps are sold to stamp dealers and collectors, and the monies raised are used to support the work of Uniting, Uniting Mission and Education, Frontier Services.
It’s like any collectible; the better the condition the more valuable.
Stamps can be left in the church, preferably trimmed (details at UCA Stamp Office), and they will be delivered to the Stamp Room in Pitt St. Sydney.