Christian Aid Week goes Virtual

Christian Aid Week 10-16 May 2020

Well, that was a bit different!

Because of the coronavirus restrictions, a Christian Aid Week without the usual red envelope, army of volunteers, house-to-house collection throughout the village, and big “count” on the following Monday morning when all the envelopes are carefully opened, counted, cross-checked, and the donations paid into the Christian Aid account. 

But Christian Aid Week couldn’t be cancelled at a time when Christian Aid’s work amongst some of the poorest communities in the world is needed more than ever.

Christian Aid itself had to react to the changed circumstances at very short notice, despite reduced staffing (furlough arrangements) and remote working.  But it was able to augment its online donations platform to allow individuals and local groups to create a dedicated “e-envelope” on the Christian Aid web site through which it could encourage its local supporters to donate.

We were able to create a Bridge of Weir e-envelope and although we were not able to reach all households in the village the way the normal house-to-house collection does we were able to email the link to this e-envelope to all the members of the St Machar’s Ranfurly, Freeland and St Mary’s churches for whom the three churches had permission to contact by email.

With Christian Aid Week going “virtual”, like everything else seems to be just now, one thing remained as “real” as ever.  Your commitment to support the work of Christian Aid!  Thanks to you, a much smaller number of donors than usual, the fantastic sum of £3,835 was raised through the Bridge of Weir e-envelope.  Together with the gift aid bonus and some donations which were made directly to Christian Aid without going through the Bridge of Weir e-envelope, the total amount raised was probably in excess of £4,500.  And that’s all down to you!  Thank you, thank, thank you!

Dave Macdonald, Bridge of Weir Christian Aid Week coordinator.