MANY churches have a tradition of people bringing the ‘fruits of creation’ to the altar at the Harvest Festival service, thanking God for them and then distributing them to those who need them.

In the parish of Badshot Lea and Hale, the churches of St John’s, Hale, St Mark’s, Upper Hale, and St George’s, Badshot Lea, will be collecting food for the local Foodbank on October 4 at the Harvest services which are 9:30am, 10am and 11am respectively.

Reverend Lesley Crawley said” “Please come along and sing your favourite harvest songs and, if possible, bring some food for those who don’t have enough.

“We will also be taking a collection at the end of the service at the door for the Syrian refugees.”

The Foodbank is particularly in need of tinned meat, instant mash, tinned sponge puddings, powdered milk, chocolate, long-life fruit juice, tinned fruit, biscuits, snack bars, tinned rice pudding, UHT Milk, sugar, tinned vegetables, tinned fish and toiletries.