|PIC1|Retirees, Leslie and Bill Sugden would not describe themselves as poor but like many older people they have to live on a very limited income. They have lived for 20 years comfortably in their home in Sandgate, Folkestone, and are very happy there but in recent years Leslie has struggled with an increasingly dilapidated kitchen. A new kitchen, though, was out of their reach.

For many years Mrs Sugden has attended St Paul’s church in Sandgate. There she prays for the poor and needy and has long been committed to doing what she can to raise money to support children and communities in need overseas. But on one occasion Mrs Sugden decided to pray for help for herself and she asked the Lord to assist her with her kitchen.

When four weeks later she saw a nearly new kitchen by the side of the road, Leslie knew that her prayer had been answered. Local store Village Kitchens were refitting their shop and had pulled out the old display set, which was still in excellent condition.

The store was happy for her to take it away so she called on her neighbours to help her. In a real show of community spirit, Mr and Mrs Sugden’s neighbours pitched in and transported and fitted the kitchen for them. One friend did the plumbing, Mr Sugden did electrics and others fitted the units and appliances. The value of the kitchen was well over £3,000.

Leslie was both amazed and gratified at the generosity of those around her. She knew that the kitchen was a gift from God and that it had been given to her so that she could help others in turn. Ever since the kitchen was given to her Leslie has held regular lunches, tea parties and dinners, has baked cakes and made jams and chutneys for sale all to raise money for charities with a focus on children and poverty.

World Emergency Relief UK has been the main beneficiary of Leslie’s hard work. The charity, which works to help vulnerable and poor children across the world, noticed the regularity of Leslie’s gifts and wanted to find out more.

“One of my staff spoke to Mrs Sugden on the phone when she was making a recent donation and discovered that she had raised the money through holding a tea party,” said WER Chief Executive Alex Haxton. “When we checked the records we discovered that Mrs Sugden had sent in more than £2,000 over the last three years. I was moved to think of Mrs Sugden’s hard work so I got in touch with her and asked if I could join her next event.”

Mrs Sugden was extremely happy to hold a special dinner event at which Haxton thanked her and her husband for their work and talked about how their contributions were helping children overseas.

“When Mrs Sugden told me about the origins of her kitchen I was really amazed,” said Haxton. “I absolutely agree with her that this was Gods’ gift. The way that she is using this gift to honour Him by helping those in need shows that she is a true Christian and a wonderful person.”