Friday 8 December saw our Filling Station Christmas meal with 50 friends joining us for a meal, some art
s and crafts and music and videos. It is worth reflecting that we only started Filling Station in April and none of us knew where we would end up with this project. We’ve made so many new friendships this year, been able to offer help and support to a few people and for some just simply listened and cared. The impact of Filling Station can best be summed up in the words of a Christmas card we recieived from one of the families that simply said ” Thank you for making me and my family feel so welcome”.
Filling Station has been a project helped by the whole church and by visitors who’ve simply decided they want to help as well. Whether it is setting out the room each week, preparing and serving the food, washing up and tidying up or providing entertainment for kids and adults everyone has played a role in making Filling Station work.
We pray for the Filling Station to continue to grow and serve the needs of both West View and the wider Hartlepool community. As an added bonus we did see Terry turn up as Santa Scruff or “Wurzel” as Matty keeps calling him. We don’t take ourselves too seriously at West View Baptist Church. Our last Filling Station for the year will be on Friday 15 December.
On 7th April we started a new weekly event. It’s called The Filling Station, and between 5 and 7pm each Friday we serve a free meal to anyone who is hungry!