Local clergy to camp out in Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist for charity

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The floors and pews of the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist will serve as bedding for clergy members spending all of tonight in the church in an effort to boost a charity initiative to provide families with furniture.

Those taking part will gather at 6 p.m. to help raise awareness of the need to provide more than 160 households with items they need for everyday life.

Clergy from the 17 parishes of the Anglican Church will take part in what has been labelled “The Clergy on the Floor” event.

“This is the first time this has been done, but not the first time for support from the Anglican congregation,’’ Rev. Charlene Taylor said Thursday.

“This is a small group of clergy, nine right now, out of the 17 parishes. We hope those who have not signed up will certainly do so.’’

The Clergy on the Floor event is a demonstration of the participants’ active commitment to promote social justice and end furniture poverty in the region.

Clergy on the Floor is the culmination of a Lenten campaign to raise awareness of — and funds for — Home Again Furniture Bank.

Participating clergy, led by the Archdeaconry of Avalon, sought sponsors for their night on the floor so others in the region would not have to do without the comfort of a bed to sleep in.

Home Again Furniture Bank is a local non-profit organization that aims to eradicate furniture poverty. In 2018, Home Again delivered beds, sofas, tables and more to 316 households throughout the northeast Avalon.

Anyone wishing to receive furniture or household goods from Home Again Furniture Bank must be referred through one of the organization’s partners. Home Again does not provide direct client service.

For more information, interested persons are asked to contact [email protected] or call 1-709-325-4040.

As of March 31, Home Again has furnished 990 homes through donations from more than 960 donors. In addition, more than 140 people have volunteered in an effort to make a huge difference and to further beat the drum of the organization, and 292 tonnes of furniture have been diverted from local landfills.