Catholics across the country have come together within their parishes and communities to help the most vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic, with charities reporting a surge in volunteers.
Over the weekend the chief executives of the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) and the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) published an action plan template for parish volunteers. Phil McCarthy of CSAN and Elizabeth Palmer of SVP asked members to consider how they might reach out to the most vulnerable and support those needing to self-isolate, including elderly parish priests. The template can be used to plan a practical local response, and the final question asks: “How can we make this support effective and lasting?”
There was also a reminder to continue supporting the Catholic charities that vulnerable people rely on. Many charities face great challenges: increased costs due to the need to protect staff and home working, and lost income from second collections and fundraisers. Yet, this week the SVP reported an upsurge of volunteers.
“Of course, anybody can help their self-isolating neighbours by offering to do shopping for them or share an online delivery, but many people recognise that providing help in a coordinated way is best done through an organisation like the SVP,” SVP’s National President, Helen O’Shea, said. Some retired SVP members have asked to re-join their local groups. Though not able to get out and about, they can still telephone or write letters to isolated people.
Parishes around the country have set up online chat groups and devised other strategies to stay in contact with vulnerable people and potential volunteers. Last weekend, a group of Companions of the Order of Malta collected 230 pot plants and dropped them off at care homes across London. Each had a card attached which included an email address and telephone number in case the recipient needs assistance.
Caritas Portsmouth has thus far kept its “lunch@2” project, which supports local rough sleepers running, with volunteers wearing masks and gloves and serving takeaway food only. The London Catholic Worker-run “Urban Table” soup kitchen in Hackney, north London, also remained open on Sunday, with volunteers observing similar health and safety regulations.
Great efforts are being made to keep night shelters for the homeless running, although in Westminster, the Jesuit Parish in Farm Street reported this week that guests of its homeless centre would be moving into a hotel organised by City of Westminster night shelters.
Sheila Gallagher of Westminster Justice and Peace reported that her local Chipping Barnet foodbank “has made very detailed contingency plans as to how to keep helping the needy people around us”. Bags were prepared by a large team, packing in a much bigger space than they are used to for keeping a safe social distance.
Jeremy Cain, the Mercy Hub Coordinator at St Mary’s Cathedral in Newcastle, reported the story of local Big Issue vendor, Earl John Charlton. His magazine sales dropped off dramatically. “As the coronavirus hit the news and social media, it put people into a frenzy to the point of where they were avoiding even walking past me because of close contact and money to be exchanged” he said. “But because of current loss of sales, the Mercy Hub helped me set up a PayPal account so people can pay in and have the Big Issue delivered by subscription”.
How are you managing during lockdown? Email us your stories, and any pictures you are willing to share, and we will post them on a blog.
The Tablet has a list of churches live-streaming Holy Mass and other resources for Catholics during the Covid-19 pandemic. Email us anything you wish to be added
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