St Botolph’s in Shepshed regularly fundraise for Christian Aid and have a fundraising group of 8 people plus many other helpers, often working ecumenically with other churches in Shepshed. Each year the team arrange house to house collections, an annual Soup Lunch, Sponsored Walk, Cake Stall, Coffee Morning and Concert.
The lockdown has meant that many charities have struggled to fundraise as events have been cancelled or postponed. This was something that St Botolph’s working group realised. With most of their traditional fundraising methods not possible, two of their members, Kathryn and Samantha, had the brilliant idea of creating a COVID-19 cookbook. They advertised in their weekly ‘Faith in Focus’ for people to send their favourite recipes that they had used during the lockdown. The recipes were gathered and Kathryn and Samantha printed and bound the cookbook. The finished cookbook contains more than 40 favourite recipes some of which have been passed between generations and friends; such as soup, curry, lasagne, pudding and of course cakes and traybakes.
The cookbook has gone down a storm and in just a week and a half they have sold 120 copies. It has been advertised in their weekly newsletter, other churches and on Facebook. Not only has this been a great fundraising project but it has brought the community together as they share their stories and recipes. As one member explains, "Presently, we are not able to meet or sit around a table for companionship. However, we could contribute to spiritually feeding one another by sharing our talents, as another way of demonstrating hope during difficult times."
If you would be interested in buying a copy of the cookbook for £5 and would be local enough to collect a copy you can email office@shepshedandoaks.co.uk or call Jane Payne on 01509 829804.
Is your community continuing to fundraise for charities despite the current restrictions? We’d love to hear your stories of Everyday Action, so please get in touch and let us know what you are doing by emailing beth.cluer@leccofe.org.