Sorry for the dramatic attention seeking title.
I can’t have been the only one deflated seeing from a crowd of many thousands on Tuesday only 70 people contributed to the well publicised Foodbank collection.
Charlton supporters have always been known for their caring nature and generosity. We’ve seen it dozens of times on here over the years.
How can we rally this to get a significantly boosted response tonight? It doesn’t have to be much, no one needs to fill a shopping trolley, but surely we can all go out of our way to pick up a couple of tins today to help those who might not be in such a fortunate person at a difficult time of year?
Two of our CL parish
@Cardinal Sin and
@Pico are at the forefront of this and have devoted a lot of time and effort. Can’t we on here make a pledge to support them in their efforts tonight?
What do people think?
Also, do others also think there’s any value in a Twitter storm at midday as a reminder and to try and generate a bit of momentum? Would others support it? say using the hashtag #CharltonFoodbankFriday ?
Thoughts?
Comments
AFKA, if we set up a Justgiving page, people can donate small sums so that we can pay for an online shop? (Just thinking aloud)
I donate and I'm sure Seth does but there's no denying that the very necessity of foodbanks is a direct result of the measures put in place by the government this country has overwhelmingly re-elected.
Whilst donating may make people feel better it is addressing the symptom not the problem ie the policies and governance of the re-elected government that have caused them to be such a necessity for poverty laden british families on the eve of 2020.
To ignore that fact is supreme cognitive dissonance which seems to be the default position of the day.
https://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/83935/food-banks
We shouldn't need foodbanks, but we do. The system allows people to wait up to 5 weeks for benefits and there are plenty living on less than a fiver a day. Don't want to get political on here in the main forum but people only get to use foodbanks if they are referred to them by the council or DWP or likewise: it's not an option for the feckless it's a temporary stopgap for people living in very difficult conditions.
If you spent time working in social care you might have a more sympathetic view and a little more empathy.
I'm sure there are a whole host of ways people can click a button and chuck money at this or many other related things if they wish.
Personally i was more interested in trying to generate a bit of personal engagement, community spirit and effort in physical contributing, but i'm not overly convinced too many people are that bothered tbh.
I must try harder next time
I didn't say it often enough on Tuesday, maybe my bleating wasn't dramatic enough.
- via the give help button.. Useful for those who can't donate something in person.
I think any kind of word of mouth or Twitter can only help. I think we need to encourage all donations even if it's just another tin of beans.
I see the trust page encourages use of the Sainsbury's at charlton rail station and still think that's by far the easiest option to point people towards.
https://www.castrust.org/2019/12/fill-the-foodbank-van-on-friday/
Oh also, for those suffering cognitive dissonance -
https://fullfact.org/electionlive/2019/dec/9/food-banks-more-mcdonalds/
https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a051r00001PZXyEAAX
Charlton Community Trust looking to raise £5000 but only half way there. You donate, for example, £10 and through matched fundraising and gift aid it becomes £22.50 straight to the charity.
Ed. Shame, looks like it has closed for the year on the 10th.
@Stu_of_Kunming
Yes, they do get benefits which in theory obviates the need but those benefits can take a hell of a time to come through.
What are they meant to do in the interim?
Sorry if this question seems a tad naive, but living as I do in a small rural village in Northants, I have no experience of food banks and abject or relative poverty to form an opinion. I do however give £30 each month to a foreign non caucasian "cause" and I raise additional money for that cause by undertaken presentations on their history to local clubs/organisations.
this might not be in the spirit of things but maybe like the old joke on fools and horses when the brixton riots were happening del boy was down there selling bricks to the locals.
maybe someone might know of someone who at a discount due to their work can get down there with a van full of bulk buy tins and sell them to people before they reach the food bank. the profit they raise can go straight to the food bank to give.
I know in theory they could just give the tins straight to the food bank but maybe they cant afford to give that many tins and on top of that people will have a chance to give to the food bank when they wouldn't be able to due to logistics of getting their food/tins over to the valley.
edit: i know, i know, just read it back, stupid idea. just trying to think of a way to get people engaged when they might not be able to get the chance to get their food down there as its an evening kick off.