Forum topic: 'I was hungry and you gave me food... I was a stranger and you welcomed me'

Palmers Green's "van-driving priest" features in this week's Church Times

I've already reported this week about the anguished question posed by local food support group Cooking Champions: "How can it be right that such a basic human need [to not starve] is not being met for so many in our borough?' And by coincidence a day later my saved search with Google for mentions of Palmers Green took me to an article in the Church Times about the charitable efforts of the congregation of St John's Church, with a photographs of big piles of items donated for Afghan refugees (contained in 5335 black sacks)

The article goes on to mention anti-social behaviour around the church (Rev Julie Coleman was herself attacked), the stock of suits that the church maintains to lend to job-seekers for their interviews, and the church's work to feed the hungry - the Ark, which provides 456 meals a week.

Volunteers at Palmers Green Mosque sort clothing donations for Afghan refugees

St John's and Cooking Champions aren't alone in Palmers Green in doing what the government seems to think is none of its business, and making sure that people don't starve. St Monica's Catholic church provides 300 meals a week. And another place of worship that is supporting Afghan refugees is Palmers Green Mosque.