Members of Finchampstead Baptist Church (FBC) spent Saturday night sleeping outside in cardboard boxes.
The event was organised to raise money for the church’s Winter Warmer Fund, which will be made available for local people in need.
It will especially benefit those most affected by the rising cost of fuel over the coming winter months.
Participants for the sleep-out arrived at 9pm at FBC, on Gorse Ride North.
The group of 17 people ranged in age from 11 years upwards.
Everyone slept outside the front entrance of the church on the concrete, armed with sleeping bags and a number of cardboard boxes to get comfortable in.
One of the organisers, Kim Elwood, said:
“We had boxes kindly donated by Shurgard Wokingham for people to fashion into beds.
“Some of the group did really creative things, making rooms and tunnels to go into.
“Others just put their cardboard on the concrete to lie on.”
Did anyone get any sleep?
“From around midnight everyone was sleeping, although we always had two of us awake at any one time to keep watch,” she continued.
“There was plenty of snoring until about 6am or 7am.
“The atmosphere was lovely, we had a fire pit, hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.”
A lot of people will find themselves in real difficulty this winter, unable to heat their homes.
So the group is delighted that already, by the next morning, their efforts had raised more than £5,000.
“We were also supported by local businesses,” Kim explained.
“T-shirts were donated by I-Print in Holme Grange Craft Village.
“They were amazing, they didn’t think twice about it, and made T-shirts for the whole group.
“And Share Wokingham donated the hot chocolate and buns for breakfast.
“They also lent us their van to transport all the cardboard boxes to the church.”
Christine Davies, one of the sleepers, said the next morning:
“It was absolutely brilliant, a wonderful atmosphere.
“It was mild, there was a full moon, and I absolutely loved it.
“The highlight was the people, we had hours to chat and be together, it was fun.
“There were some elaborate houses made, but I just put my boxes flat on the floor, sat down and got on with my knitting!”
Leah Simpkins, also taking part in the event said:
“It’s an issue we’ve talked about for a long time, and it’s been on the news a lot that fuel is going to be a problem for many, so it was great to be able to do something to help, and something so simple as well.
“My brother couldn’t sleep so I gave him some of my cardboard in a moment of love!
“Because of that I ended up being awake all night on the concrete, but most people slept, because there was so much snoring.
“It was really foggy in the early morning, but the moon before then was very pretty.
“I’m tired now, but I’m so glad I did it, and I’d do it again like a shot.”
The church thanks Shurgard Wokingham, I-Print, Share Wokingham and the staff at FBC for their support.
Anyone wishing to donate to the fund can do so by logging onto the Winter Warmer fundraising page at: www.fbc.churchsuite.com/donate/
For more information about FBC log onto: www.finchampstead.com/
