I am a volunteer for Save the Children and, also, for a local Charity, Children's Hospice South West, and we always have lots of fund-raising things going on at this time. For each Charity, we have a local group operating in the area in which I live. There are only seven of us on each Committee, but we manage to do quite well in our fund-raising throughout the year.
Save the Children do such wonderful things all over the world and, when a disaster strikes, like the terrible flooding in Pakistan earlier in the year, they usually have people on the ground already, so they are very well equipped to help out in these situations. We held our annual Christmas Concert for them last Friday, in the local Church, and raised £540, so we were very pleased with that. As with all Charities, every penny really does help.
Children's Hospice South West set up the Precious Lives Appeal three years ago, to raise five million pounds to build a new childrens' hospice in our region. A lady came and gave a talk to a ladies' group that I belong to, and we were so inspired that seven of us decided to set up a little group to see if we could help in any way that we could. In the two years since we have been set up, we have raised £9,000 to go towards the Appeal. I think if you have healthy children, and healthy grandchildren, it really makes you think about all those poor children who are not so fortunate.
I'm delighted to say that the Precious Lives Appeal has, so far, raised four million pounds, so there is a real push now to raise that remaining one million pounds in the next twelve months. Building work on the new Hospice has already started, and it is hoped that the first families will go through the doors in the Autumn of 2011.
An Advent Fair is held every year at the local Church, and we will be participating at that event in a bid to raise more monies for the Appeal. Last year, we set up a Christmas Tree, and we sold memory stars, where people could write their messages to loved ones that they had lost, and hang them on the tree. The tree then stayed in the Church all over Christmas. We thought that was a lovely idea, and it raised quite a lot of money.
We are always on the look out for new fund-raising ideas, so if any of my blogging friends have any suggestions for things we could do next year, they would be most welcome.
10 comments:
Nothing could be more worthy than taking care of children. Thank you for serving.
You've raised an amazing amount of cash - well done!
Oh wow!! This is beautiful and wonderful! (Just like you!) I love everything that you are doing, but my favorite thing is the Memory Stars for the tree. I love that idea! God Bless You!
great charity how wonderful of you
This...it doesn't surprise me one bit that you are involved in raising money for good causes. It's a reflection of your kindness. Kids are always a worthwhile cause to help aren't they? Bruce and I often say that if we had money, we'd do so much for kids and animals. Someday!
No new ideas here, but wanted to say how wonderful of you for doing so much!
Save the Children is a charity I am familiar with as used to support many of their fund raising efforts in the UK. I love the idea of the Memory tree.
I am not sure if the snow and cold has reached as far south as Devon but hope you are staying warm.
Thank you to EVERYONE for all of your comments. It is always lovely to hear from you.
This is wonderful work you are involved in. As for ways to raise money? Well, here is an idea. But you may have already done it:
You could auction off people's services. If someone is a hair stylist, they could auction a free cut and style. A carpenter could fix someones cupboards. Someone could babysit or house sit. Someone could clean a house, do the ironing etc.
Hi there Belle. That sounds like a really good idea for a fund-raising event. We certainly have never done anything like that before and I think it would work very well. We will be having our planning meeting early in the new year, and this idea will be at the top of the list! Many thanks.
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