This month, Manchester WI led with a charity theme. We believe charity begins at home, so our chosen charity for this year, Paws for Kids, came to speak to us, as well as Patricia Juby and Eleanor Carey, Global Poverty Ambassadors (part of the Global Poverty Project) for the UK.
Carole Marsden, who started Paws for Kids at her kitchen table, came to not only detail what the charity is about – providing help to families who are the victims of domestic violence, women, children and animals (the only in the UK to offer shelter for pets) – but to also tell us what we as an Institute could do to help. We are not only looking to fundraise for the charity, but also to help in other ways.
Ahead of the meeting, we asked our members to bring any items of unwanted clothing or items such as books/DVDs/CDs. Paws for Kids have opened a new charity shop in Bolton and these items will help not only stock the shop, but the clothing can be used for women who have to leave items behind when they escape a violent partner. I think I speak for all of us when I say we were only too happy to help.
We are also going to collect small toiletry items – especially those we call collect from hotels whilst on holiday – as these are extremely useful to women and families who often have to leave a violent situation with only the clothes on their back. Little things such as shampoo, conditioner, even tampons, can make this easier.
The Global Poverty Project is working internationally to end extreme poverty – 1.4 billion people around the world live in extreme poverty – and the Global Poverty Ambassadors are working with the project, looking at ways of helping them out of the poverty cycle, whether through aid, education, funding (such as the Lend with Care project) or with fundraising, such as taking part in the Live Below the Line challenge. The aim is to find ways to help people help themselves, working in a sustainable way.
Both Pat and Eleanor have taken part in the Live Below the Line challenge, living on £1 a day for 5 days – the equivalent of that available to those across the world. The challenge has raised over £50,000 for the project.
We also encouraged our members to bring their unwanted bras as part of the Oxfam Big Bra Hunt. These are either sold in Oxfam shops to raise funds, their components are recycled, or they are sent to developing countries, in particular Senegal, where there is a dearth of technology available to produce bras of the same quality.
I wanted to add a massive thanks to our members who took part in the night. I know I echo the thoughts of the Committee when I say we have a fantastically generous membership. We were thrilled with the donations for Paws for Kids and for the Big Bra Hunt.
Thankyou ladies.
More information on Paws for Kids:
http://www.pawsforkids.org.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paws-For-Kids/325795281117
More information on the Global Poverty Project and associated projects: