The Society is tremendously grateful to all the volunteers who braved a chilly and often inhospitable Friday in September to help with our annual Street Appeal.
The Street Appeal was held across Canterbury over two days, Friday 5 September and Saturday 6 September. It attracted the support of over 450 volunteers, including high school students, local MPs, Society members and community volunteers. Together they collected almost $39,000 at 68 locations.
The money collected goes directly towards providing support programmes for our members, like the Home Visiting Programme and the Gym and Exercise Programme.
While the amount collected was short of this year’s collection target it was nonetheless a fantastic result given the challenge presented by the weather and society’s relentless move to trading with Eftpos and Credit Cards, which we are unable to process.
The growing number of people no longer carrying cash is becoming a big challenge for all organisations conducting street appeals across multiple sites because of the cost of renting appropriate devices and the time taken to train collectors to use them, but the Society will be investigating the deployment of electronic payment methods at key sites in the future.
We are very grateful for those who spread the word about our online donation campaign. Online donations are always accepted through GiveaLittle.
The Society would like to thank the individual members and volunteers who acted as team leaders for Carnation Day. We would also like to thank the following schools and organisations for their generosity in organising collection points throughout the region:
- Altrusa International
- Cashmere High School
- Christchurch Boys’ High School
- Christchurch Girls’ High School Interact Group
- Kaiapoi High School
- Kiwanis Club of North West Christchurch
- Lions Club of Akaroa & Bays
- Lions Club of Ashburton Pakeke
- Lions Club of Christchurch Pegasus
- Lions Club of Christchurch South
- Lions Club of Hanmer Springs
- Lions Club of Kaikoura (Seaward)
- Lions Club of Lyttelton
- Lions Club of Malvern (Darfield)
- Lions Club of Rakaia
- Lions Club of Riccarton Waimairi
- Lions Club of Rolleston & Districts
- Lions Club of Woodend
- Lions Club of Malvern (Darfield)
- Rangiora High School
- Rotary Club of Christchurch South
- Rotary Club of Hornby
- Rotary Club of Lincoln
- St Andrew’s College
Grateful thanks also to the Lions Club of Methven and the Oxford and District Lions Club for their generous donations, as well as to the students from Hagley Community College and the University of Canterbury who volunteered independently.
We hope to see you all again next year for Carnation Day, because without your help none of this would have been possible!