Posted on: 25th July 2024

Church members from Holy Trinity Cookridge have been looking to support those going into Leeds General Infirmary, by providing 100 emergency toiletries bags.

After one of the members of the church’s crafting group was taken ill, a need for emergency toiletry supplies for those going in to hospital was identified, and the group sprang into action to meet the need.

Sally Firth, Churchwarden, said: “At one of the craft group regular meetings, the group were looking for a project which would benefit the wider community.  

“One of the group had been taken ill a short while ago at a craft group meeting, where fortunately the leader is a retired nurse.

“She recognised the problems and telephoned for an ambulance.

“The member was admitted directly from the church without any personal belongings and underwent emergency surgery which saved her life.

“She was aware from personal experience arriving in hospital with nothing was difficult.

“The idea developed and the group started to work on the bags.

“One person made them all from various fabric she had available and other members of the group collected/ donated the contents for the bags.

“Another made up the bags and a volunteer wrote the tags.”

A member of the group commented that: "We found pleasure in working together as a team to produce something small but important to benefit others.

“Each bag contained, in addition to the toiletries, a felt heart to show our love and prayers for others, at a time of suffering.”

Fr Paul Atkinson, vicar at the church, blessed the bags, before they were taken to LGI.

The group continue to work together on further initiatives to help others in the wider community.