Easter chicks support local children’s hospice

by Kevin and Barbara Fletcher

Knitted Easter chicks in a basket

Members of the Rochdale Ward, Ashton Stake, supported by sisters of the Ashton 1 Ward, for the last few years have adopted Francis House Hospice for Children as one of their reach-out community projects.

Pre-pandemic and during the build-up to Easter, sisters have knitted Easter chicks into which chocolate cream eggs donated by members have been inserted. The completed Easter chicks were then donated to the Hospice for them to sell as part of their ongoing fundraising activities.

Easter 2021 brought new challenges! Would the project be able to continue?

Certificate for raising £1567

It was decided to go ahead despite the challenges, but with the added invitation to not only supply the chocolate cream eggs and knit the chicks but to also sell the finished goods to family, friends, work colleagues, and others.

The response was overwhelming and the best to date. A total of £1,567 was raised and donated. In response the Hospice sent a letter of thanks, and a certificate. One of the lines from the letter read

“A heartfelt thank you for taking part in our Easter Chick Appeal and raising an absolutely fantastic £1,567 for Francis House Children’s Hospice through the sale of your own knitted eggs. The support means more than words can say. I’m truly grateful you took the time and energy to support us during this difficult year for our appeal.”

In a time of adversity and with limitations caused by COVID, there are still opportunities to serve others within local communities, whose needs are greater than ever before.