Christian Caring help from Crisis programmes in Crawley

Churches from across West as well as Mid Sussex and Crawley have combined together to assist the vulnerable in the community. The charity operation relies on volunteers and donations to keep their services running, and they have formed the Easter Team as a result of this partnership. Whenever possible, clients can receive assistance such as free food to a hot meal on Saturdays. The churches in Crawley can also signpost a family to financial aid programmes from local councils.

Christian Caring in Crisis and the Easter team is made up of volunteers. While the charity is faith based, they will help anyone that needs it. They assist people of different denominations and will not discriminate. Of course assistance is only provided if the organisation has the resources available to meet the demand of the applicant. There are instances in which the cupboards at the food bank go bare, and maybe the person needs to be referred to another programme in Mid Sussex.

The donations that allow the Easter Team to run come from not only Christian Churches but schools and grocery stores. Those places, as well as many other provide surplus food. There are also councils that partner with the organisation in an effort to assist people living in poverty. All of these groups started this team as they saw a need in the Crawley community to help the less fortunate.

One form of assistance is crisis help. This is most limited but it can assist no matter what the challenge is. If someone is sleeping on the streets then a blanket and meal may be given to them. Tenants that are threatened with homelessness can have a volunteer help them apply for local welfare or a discretionary housing payment. They can also help a client move into a local Crawley Hostel. In very rare cases, financial assistance may be available to help pay a small portion of a bill in a crisis.

So whatever the need is, the Christian Caring in Crisis organisation will try to respond. When someone is threatened by an emergency they try to respond as quickly as possible.

Meals as well as free food parcels are located at the Easter Team office. The charity is always seeking more items, such as pasta, vegetables, soups, tinned meats, and the like. So when possible the volunteers will try to feed those in poverty. Or a family can stop by for a hot meal on Saturday.

If Christian Caring in Crisis does not have boxes of food to pass out, then they will refer the individual to the local CAB or Resource Centre. Between the parcels passed out and the referrals, most vulnerable families can get some form of support. They also have the hours of other food banks that operate in the West Sussex area.

The main resource centre is in Gleneagles Court on Brighton Road, Crawley, West Sussex. There is usually a volunteer at the location in the morning to answer the phone. The hours of the centre will vary though, so people may need to call multiple times. The main number to ring is 01293 657140.