Tag: islandmagee

Islandmagee Primary School: Spreading Harvest Joy through Generosity

In the heart of Islandmagee, a little school with a big heart has made a significant impact on our community. Islandmagee Primary School, with its wonderful harvest festival, has embraced the spirit of the season by generously donating to Whitehead Storehouse, the local food bank for Whitehead, Ballycarry and Islandmagee. In this blog post, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the school for their dedication to making a difference through their harvest donation.

A Time to Share Blessings:

The harvest season is a special time when we celebrate the abundance of the earth and give thanks for the blessings we receive. It’s a time for communities to come together, share the joy, and support those in need.

Islandmagee Primary School held a harvest festival and their contribution of food items, collected during this, will ensure that families in our community won’t go without essentials.

More than just filling stomachs, the school’s generosity has nurtured spirits. The act of giving has brought warmth and hope to individuals and families facing difficult times and their donation has also been a valuable lesson for their students. It teaches the importance of compassion, generosity, and caring for the community, a lesson that extends far beyond the classroom.

Expressing Our Gratitude

To the students, teachers, and staff of Islandmagee Primary School, we extend our sincere thanks. Your school has shown us the power of community, kindness, and the impact even a small act of giving can have. Your harvest festival donation reminds us that we can all play a part in making our community a better place and making harvest season a time to share and be grateful.

Harvesting Happiness: A Grateful Shout-out to Islandmagee Methodist Church

Spirit of Harvest

As autumn’s gentle touch transforms the landscape, the spirit of harvest envelops us, reminding us to count our blessings and share our abundance. This year, we are also immensely grateful to the Islandmagee Methodist Church for their outstanding generosity in donating their harvest collection to Whitehead Storehouse, the local food bank for Whitehead, Islandmagee and Ballycarry. Their act of kindness has not only enriched our community but has also kindled warmth in our hearts. In this blog post, we wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the Islandmagee Methodist Church for their commitment to making a difference.

Essence of Harvest:

Harvest is a time of gratitude and sharing, a season when communities come together to celebrate the gifts of the land and ensure that none within their midst go hungry. The Islandmagee Methodist Church, through their remarkable act of kindness, embodies the true spirit of this season.

Strengthening Community Bonds:

Even more than tangible donations, the Islandmagee Methodist Church’s gift has fortified the bonds within our community. It has shown us that when we unite with open hearts and outstretched hands, we can build a compassionate and resilient community.

Expressing Our Gratitude:

To the members of the Islandmagee Methodist Church, we extend our deepest appreciation for your very generous harvest collection and for the retiring collection sum of £700. Your commitment to the values of charity, generosity, and community has made a tangible difference in the lives of those around you. Your donation has lightened the burdens of many, and your example inspires us all to be better neighbours.

Heartfelt Thank You to Spar Islandmagee for Their Generous Donation

In a world filled with constant hustle and bustle, it’s always heart-warming to see local businesses stepping up to make a positive impact on their communities. We are excited to express our heartfelt gratitude to Spar Islandmagee, a beacon of generosity in our community, for their recent donation of goods to support Whitehead Storehouse, as part of their 40th birthday celebrations. Their act of kindness reminds us that when businesses and communities come together, incredible things can happen.

Gary, Spar, Islandmagee and Patrick Stewart, Whitehead Storehouse

The Power of Local Generosity

Local businesses are the backbone of any community. They provide jobs, goods, and services that sustain our neighbourhoods and improve our quality of life. However, the best among them go beyond their day-to-day operations to give back, becoming invaluable partners in the mission to make the world a better place.

Spar, Islandmagee has long been a shining example of this commitment. Their recent donation of goods to Whitehead Storehouse has been nothing short of extraordinary. These goods, including food staples and toiletries  will go a long way in supporting the less fortunate in our community and making a real difference in their lives.

A Helping Hand in Challenging Times

In today’s challenging times, the need for support within our community is more significant than ever. Many individuals and families face difficult circumstances due to various factors, including economic hardship, health issues, or unforeseen emergencies. This is where the generosity of local businesses like Spar, Islandmagee truly shines.

Their donation will provide immediate relief and support to those who need it most, and Spar, Islandmagee has not just donated goods, they’ve offered hope and assistance to those facing tough times.

Inspiring Others to Give Back

The impact of this donation goes beyond the material goods they provided. They inspire other local businesses to follow suit, encouraging a culture of giving and compassion that strengthens the fabric of our community. Their generosity serves as a powerful reminder that we are all interconnected and that when we come together, we can create positive change.

A Lasting Partnership

We want to express our deep appreciation to Spar Islandmagee for their commitment to Whitehead Storehouse’s mission. Their donation of goods not only helps us in our immediate efforts but also strengthens the foundation of our partnership. We look forward to working together on future initiatives and continuing to make our community a better place for all.

Conclusion

In a world often filled with challenges and uncertainty, it’s reassuring to know that we have businesses like this in our community. Their recent donation of goods is a testament to their dedication to the well-being of our neighbours and the betterment of our community as a whole. We extend our heartfelt thanks and hope their generosity serves as an inspiration for others to join in making our community a brighter, more compassionate place. Together, we can create a ripple effect of kindness that will touch the lives of many for years to come.

Thank You Islandmagee Primary School

Islandmagee Primary School held a harvest collection event and has donated the items brought in to Whitehead Storehouse to help those in economic difficulty this winter. Thank you very much for thinking of those who will not have very much and donating items that will help keep people fed during hard times.

Thank You St John’s Church of Ireland Islandmagee

Many thanks to those who donated items at St John’s Church of Ireland Harvest Festival Service for use by Whitehead Storehouse. Your gifts are gratefully received. It appears that the coming winter is going to be difficult for many people and your donations mean that Whitehead Storehouse will be able to provide emergency food help to those in need.

Thank You Presbyterian Church Islandmagee

Thank you very much to all the donors at the Islandmagee Presbyterian Church Harvest Festival Service, who gave food and other non-perishables and also donations of vouchers and cash to Whitehead Storehouse.


Whitehead Storehouse is really grateful for all the amazing support received this autumn, which will let us help those in need locally this winter, including Islandmagee, Whitehead and Ballycarry.

Thank You Islandmagee Methodist Church

Islandmagee Methodist Church Harvest Festival Donations

A huge thank you to all those who donated at the Islandmagee Harvest Festival Service. The donations have been passed to Whitehead Storehouse, the independent food bank for Whitehead, Islandmagee and Ballycarry and will be kept safe, ready for emergency food supplies to be provided for those in need in the local area.

We all know that food costs have risen steeply in the last few months and that heating has become even more costly, with oil, gas and electricity prices rising sharply. For those already in difficult economic situations, the coming winter will be even harder, with some people facing thorny choices between heating and eating. Whitehead Storehouse is very grateful for all donations that will allow us to help those in short term crisis with emergency food packs that will help them over a difficult patch.

UPDATE

A very generous financial donation has also been made from the Harvest Collection by Islandmagee Methodist Church. Very gratefully received. Thank you very much.

https://www.whiteheadstorehouse.com/

Referrals to Whitehead Storehouse

Storehouse

Whitehead Storehouse is an independent foodbank, not affiliated to the big foodbanks. We cover the Whitehead, Islandmagee and Ballycarry areas only.

Referrals

While most of our requests come from individuals in the area we cover, we can also help families and individuals in the area who have been referred by helping agencies.

We do not require any vouchers, nor do we have any set opening hours, nor waiting times for help to be provided. We do, however, liaise with other agencies in the area to ensure that our resources are shared fairly among those most in need.

If you are a member of a team or agency that helps individuals and families in the Whitehead, Ballycarry and Islandmagee areas and believe that one of your clients needs help with food, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

Contact Us

We have a dedicated mobile phone number – 0759 621 3763 that you can ring or text, as well as an email – whiteheadstorehouse@gmail.com. You can also message us from our Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/storehousewhitehead/ These are manned by volunteers, so may not always be answered immediately but are checked regularly.

What To Expect

We will need the person’s name and address and a contact number, so we can phone them and find out what they need and the best time to deliver. Most of our volunteers use withheld numbers to contact clients, so your client needs to know to expect a call from a withheld number or it may say “no caller ID”. The Storehouse provides only food but if a client needs other items, such as baby clothes or bedding, for instance, we may be able to suggest other groups that may be able to help.

Storehouse Resources

The food that Whitehead Storehouse supplies to people in need comes from local supermarkets and also from local donors. We are extremely grateful to all those donors for the food they give us for sharing out with those in need.

Community Fridge

https://www.whiteheadstorehouse.com/Community Fridges are a fairly new concept where food that would otherwise go to waste is put into a fridge for anyone to use. This gives individuals and families the opportunity to try something they might not otherwise buy and helps reduce waste. Here is a PDF document about community fridges in the Mid & East Antrim Area of Northern Ireland. Just click on the link below to open the PDF document.

Community Fridges MEA

UPDATE June 2022

Community Fridge – Eden

There is a community fridge at Eden Community Centre on the Beltoy Road, Carrickfergus, which gets frequent donations of food, both chilled and store cupboard plus flowers.

It has its own Facebook page with daily updates on donations and a map to show how to reach it.

Community Fridge – Islandmagee

There is a community fridge at Ballystrudder, Islandmagee, opposite the Islandmagee Spar shop. This also has donations from the community garden.

What Does Whitehead Storehouse Do

Whitehead Storehouse

https://www.whiteheadstorehouse.com/Whitehead Storehouse is an independent food bank. It provides confidential help to individuals and families in urgent, emergency need of food or other necessities in the Whitehead, Ballycarry and Islandmagee areas.

What Whitehead Storehouse Does

We offer short term emergency help with food and other necessities to those in economic difficulties, with the aim of tiding them over an immediate crisis, so they can eventually leave their difficulties behind. We have helped a number of people over the past number of years. Whitehead Storehouse is not associated with any other food banks and does not have opening hours, nor do you need a referral from any other agency to contact us or to receive help. You can contact us by phone or text at 0759 621 3763 or by email to whiteheadstorehouse@gmail.com .

We also work with local large stores and supermarkets who provide us with food that has reached its sell by date but is still OK to eat. We distribute this weekly or less often, depending on what and how much is available and the calls for help that are being made.

Help is based on your needs, nothing else. We do our best to distribute our resources fairly and equitably, to help the greatest number of people possible.

If you are finding it difficult to manage financially at the moment and need help with food or other necessities, please get in touch in complete privacy by phone or text at 0759 621 3763 or by email to whiteheadstorehouse@gmail.com .

What Whitehead Storehouse CANNOT Do

We are not in a position to offer long term financial support but are happy to point you to other agencies that may be able to help if needed.

Privacy

Any help you receive from Whitehead Storehouse will be kept confidential.