Christian Aid

CHRISTIAN AID APPEAL

The people of St. Martin's regard it as an integral part of their Christian faith and duty to be aware of the needs of others, especially those in poor, underdeveloped or disaster-struck countries which are unable to help themselves.

The charity "Christian Aid" specifically works in such countries, and looks to the Church in more affluent parts of the world for the support and fundraising they need.

Our main Appeal each year is in May for Christian Aid Week, but we respond to Emergency Appeals at other times, and continue to collect throughout the year for the next Appeal, bearing out our motto:
"AT ST. MARTIN'S EVERY WEEK IS CHRISTIAN AID WEEK"

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SAINT MARTIN'S CHRISTIAN AID APPEAL 2023

2023 started with another Emergency Appeal, as we received news of the terrible earthquake in Syria and Turkey in February. Thanks to generous contributions to Retiring Collections at St. Martin's, we were able to send off £495 quickly to help them meet immediate and urgent needs in the area. We then began our main annual campaign:

OUR ANNUAL APPEAL FOR 2023

Christian Aid Week this year was 14th - 20th May 2023.

We raised a total of £1721.25 - in addition to the Emergency Earthquake Appeal.

Here we see Father Nick presenting our Christian Aid Co-ordinator Helen Chapman with the cheque to be sent to Christian Aid.

This amount was raised through the activities below, throughout March to May:

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We began the build-up to Christian Aid week with our Smartie tube collection during Lent

During Lent, a(free!) tube of Smarties was given to every member of the Church.

People were asked to eat the Smarties, and then to bring the tube back filled with cash.

In 2023, this raised £93.

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We were also pleased to have re-instated our Lent Lunches after three years, which took place in the Hall on Wednesdays.
These comprised a frugal but healthy lunch of soup and bread, and we were all invited to make a donation - in lieu of what we might have spent on our lunch - of whatever amount we chose. We remember that what is a frugal amount for us, might seem like a feast to people in disaster-struck areas elsewhere in the world. Donations in 2023 for these lunches totalled £335.

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On April 29th we held our Jumble Sale in the Church Hall, and this raised £204.

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Then, during Christian Aid week itself, we held a street collection outside the shops in Barton Hill Road.

This raised a further £95, and with our St. Martin's Church badges and Christian Aid tabards, raised awareness of the Charity locally.

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As last year 'Stations of the Cross' Services were held every Wednesday in Lent, and donations at these Services all went to Christian Aid, and these were combined with donations at our Services throughout May.

From these donations, and from the envelopes distributed with our May Parish Magazines, to our Church members and the wider community in Christian Aid Week, an amazing £995 was received.

This completed our main Appeal for 2023, but we continue to collect throughout the year for the next Appeal, as...

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...Our motto continues to be:
"AT ST. MARTIN'S EVERY WEEK IS CHRISTIAN AID WEEK"

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See more from previous years in our Christian Aid Archives:

Christian Aid 2021 and 2022

Christian Aid 2019 and 2020

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