The 8 Mile Return Walk
Posted on April 27th, 2018 at 7:21AM
On Monday 23rd April we held a donor tea at Bishopthorpe Palace for those who were able to join us and had been supporting Acts 435 in 2017. We asked one of our advocates to share with the group. She told us she was nervous and not used to speaking in public. You would never have known!
With great eloquence she shared her thanks to the donors for making Acts 435 possible and of the privilege it was for her to be able to serve in this way. She shared how clients share intimate details of their lives, hopes and fears with the advocates and that the brief request that donors read represents many hours of listening/talking/visiting them in their homes etc.
She explained how this leads to a greater understanding of their problems which cannot be told on the website. Usually complex issues, not a single one. Clients are often overwhelmed and need help to break the cycle. Unemployment is seen as a way of life and debt as normality. They fall into criminal ways and then are branded for life. She shared how their local police bring folk to their food bank rather than prosecute.
"Acts 435 gives hope to the hopeless", she said.
Ann then shared such a variety of examples just from one church using Acts 435. The first was a letter she had brought to read out, what turned out to be an 8 mile return thank you. The letter is below, but the text read:
Dear All,
A week ago I was offered help through Acts 435 towards my path of regaining employment. This is a simple message to say thank you for making something possible which all government and private agencies and schemes have failed to be able to assist with.
In order to significantly increase my employment prospects I need to pass the UK driving tests, theory and practical. But the cost of taking these tests is beyond my means while I am unemployed.
Today I will walk 4 miles to deliver this letter to Ann, which I want to do so she has it by Monday. Then I will walk the same distance back. I cannot afford the bus fare. Yet this is a journey made from the heart to say thank you to you all for making a difference. God bless you.
Ann shared four other stories:
"Thank you for making it possible for them, and thank you for enabling us as advocates for Acts 435" she said.