CHURCHES are being invited to join a “Hand-to-Hand” programme and pack food to fill a shipping container destined for children who are living in poverty line around the world.

The programme, launched to coincide with World Food Day this month, is organised by the charity Feed The Hungry, which runs feeding programmes during disaster-relief operations. Volunteers are asked to create meal bags filled with dry ingredients such as rice, soya, or lentils. These are then sealed and boxed for distribution to one of the charity’s partners.

Feed The Hungry’s regional operations director, Gavin Kibble, said: “We are acutely aware of the devastating impact Covid continues to have in communities across the world, and, even as lockdown has ended, we are excited to see Christians re-engage with mission and to feed vulnerable children across the world.”

The South Kent Community Church, Folkestone, was one church that held a food-packing event this month. The leader, James Coombs, said: “As a church leader, it was wonderful to see a mix of ages working together for an amazing cause.”

One of the presidents of Churches Together England, the Revd Dr Hugh Osgood, said: “What better way than to get envisioned for whole world mission than doing something practical? This is an incredible introduction to world mission for church communities to get hands-on in changing people’s lives.”

fth.org.uk/handtohand; phone 01455 618455