Freshers
We began a project in 2007 to give goody bags to Freshers at Manchester University which is host to over 10,000 new students each year, 3000 of whom are from overseas.
An appeal was made to members, friends and parishioners to collect packets of pasta, rice, jars of coffee, tea bags, toiletries and toilet rolls. This culminated in a massive sorting exercise at St Peter’s Chaplaincy at the University.
During Freshers Week, Mother’s Union bags were given out to new students, who were thrilled and surprised to receive them.
The project has run each year since. In 2009, we gave out 2775 goody bags and included a small recipe booklet with helpful tips. We also served soup each lunchtime in the chaplaincy building and gave the students a warm welcome in a strange place.
