St Alban’s Anna Chaplaincy lead Maggie Dodd has been busy this spring. In this first article, we hear from Maggie about a new initiative in one of her local supermarkets.
The mayor of St Albans, councillor Anthony Rowlands, has welcomed a new weekly ‘drop-in’ being held at the Morrisons store in Fleetville.
The Mayor visited ‘A chance to chat’ on Monday morning (6 May) with Mayoress Annie Stevenson, and met volunteers and guests to find out more about the project run by the local ‘Anna Chaplaincy.’
After his visit to the Hatfield Road store, Councillor Rowlands said:
‘I was delighted to visit “A chance to chat” and grateful to St Albans Morrisons for hosting the weekly drop-in. Loneliness is a major problem in our society, and I welcome this initiative to help people connect with others. I’d encourage anyone who would like to meet friendly local people to drop into the Morrisons café on Monday mornings. They’ll be sure to receive a warm welcome.’
The project is being coordinated by the St Albans Anna Chaplaincy, which seeks to provide emotional and spiritual support to older people.
Lead chaplain Maggie Dodd said:
‘It’s been great to bring together a small group of local people, happy to chat with anyone who fancies popping by. I’m aware of how many people who live alone, and rely on a trip to the shops for a chance to have a conversation at the tills or in the street. We hope being at Morrisons every week will provide an opportunity for anyone to share a hot drink and a chat with a friendly person.’
‘A chance to chat’ is held every Monday morning from 9.30–11.30 am in the café at Morrisons in Hatfield Road, Fleetville, St Albans. Local people are invited to simply ‘turn up’. There is no cost and no need to book.
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