Established in August 2016, the Masonic Charity, 3 Pillars, began its mission operating in Peterborough providing hot food, clothing, tents and sleeping bags from a van. Since then, the charity has expanded to operate across 4 locations and to provide tailored services depending on the area. Reader and Freemason, Aaron Day, has worked with a team to provide a range of services in Northampton at his church, St James, Northampton.
The initiative to expand to Northampton saw the doors of St James Church open every Tuesday and Friday evening from 6pm until 8pm for the homeless to access a hot meal and drink. For many weeks, Aaron waited and not a single person visited. Fast forward exactly a year and now around 100 people access its services each evening. Initially set up to ‘feed the homeless’ it became apparent that those visiting were not always off the streets but were simply finding themselves in a time of hardship. For many, it was a choice between heating and eating and so the charity’s title was expanded: Three Pillars – Feeding the Homeless and Community in Need.
For those that visit (Friends), they are provided with a range of services. A homemade two course meal is served each evening with the majority of the ingredients being donated from a number of companies and individuals across Northampton. They have access to a Foodbank where they can request up to 4 items each evening (food, drink and toiletries). A clothing bank is available for any Friends to take items they need and there is also a team of wellbeing volunteers to provide support, guidance and signposts to those that need it. In addition to the aforementioned services, ‘Soup on a Loop’ also runs on a Tuesday, Thursday and Friday whereby a flask of soup is provided for those that are sleeping rough over the cold winter. They can then return their flask and have it replaced with a fresh batch of soup.
Each evening, a team of volunteers are assembled with many from the church and Masonic community. For many, there was some reservations with one church volunteer saying, ‘ …it has been amazing what we are achieving at St James with all our new friends from the Masons, who I don’t mind admitting, I was a little sceptical about, do we really want to a line ourselves with these people, I thought. But we could not have aligned St James with a better group of people. You are all amazing.’
In addition to the regular volunteers, Aaron is keen to invite spiritual volunteers to support the Friends on a spiritual level. Rev Canon Charlie Nobbs has visited to offer his support to those that need it and the response has been immensely positive. Since opening, St James has seen Friends attend coffee morning and also a number of church services.
It is clear to see that many of those that access the Three Pillars services are in need of many different things, some guidance, some need food and some simply need company. As we find ourselves approaching the colder months, it is important to take time to reflect on how fortunate we are and however we can, offer our own support.
If you would like to find out more about the work of Three Pillars, visit their Facebook page which can be found by searching ‘St James – 3 Pillars Feeding the Homeless and Supporting the Community’.
And if you would like to get involved, contact Aaron Day via https://www.facebook.com/groups/225145503553262/
