Baby Jessica’s box money donated to hospital chapel
DONATIONS for the Princess Elizabeth Hospital chapel have flooded in after the theft of the donation box last week.
From people married by the Rev. Linda Le Vasseur and people who have had their house blessed by her, to a GP practice putting together a donation, islanders have been coming together to support the hospital chapel after the theft left them unable to receive donations.
Carly Howlett brought her nine-month-old daughter Jessica Dorey to the chapel to make a donation from her money box.
‘Jessica was blessed by the Rev. Linda in December, at which point we never had an opportunity to make a donation,’ she said.
‘When we read what had happened in the Press, we couldn’t believe it. The fact that someone in Guernsey could do something like this is awful and especially in a hospital – it’s shocking.
‘We decided to donate the money from Jessica’s own money box as she’s only a baby, and would have difficulty spending. It won’t bring the box back but we wanted to do something to support such a wonderful place.
‘It’s good to hear that nice things have happened on the back of the box being taken.’
Since the oak donation box, which was hand-carved by a local carpenter, was stolen last Tuesday along with its contents from the wall of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital chapel, Mrs Le Vasseur said she had been overwhelmed by the amount of public support the chapel had received.
‘The donations made me realise how the chapel and chaplaincy are valued in the community,’ she said.
‘When I got the call to say that Carly and Jessica were coming to donate, I had a little weep, it’s such a lovely thing to do.
‘We’re now getting a new box made for us by a lovely guy, whom I married to his wife. He’s very excited, as am I, and because we are now a multi-faith chapel, the design will factor that in and be very inclusive, it’ll be very special.’
Guernsey Police have said that a 16-year-old male was arrested over the weekend in connection to the theft.
‘My hope is for the person responsible to see the error of their ways,’ added Mrs Le Vasseur.
‘I have been praying for them and hope they can begin again.’
