In 2018 members of the congregation at St Michael’s Church, Workington, hosted a range of events and fundraisers to help the care, support and activities at Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice. During the year of fundraising the congregation raised a £3,000 in aid of the local charity.
Margaret Smith said, “St Michael’s has been without a Rector for 3 years. This has meant a lot of extra jobs and volunteer time from all the congregation. As a result, we had not had as much community involvement as normal. However, Pay for a Day advertising caught my eye and we thought it was local, and obviously extremely worthwhile. So, we challenged the congregation to raise the money for Jigsaw during 2018.
“We initially held an Easter raffle. Then our Tots Group and Youth Group held coffee afternoons and a Table Top sale which they were able to make donations from the proceeds. One of our ladies organised some coach trips with raffles and we also had an evening with the Zing Choir.”
“Myself and my husband Raymond did a couple of car boots and tombola events and had a Coffee morning for 8 people. We then sent them off to invite 8 people to their coffee morning and ask them to continue the thread. It was a great success!”
“Towards the end of the year to reach our final target one of the ladies in the congregation held an open afternoon. We were all thrilled at how successful our efforts had been, and we managed to raise a total of £3000, all of which went to Jigsaw.”
The money raised by the St Michael’s Church congregation will help Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice to provide care, support and activities to children and young adults with life limiting illnesses. All the charity’s care and compassion is extended to the children and young adults’ family, friends and carers.
Sam Johnston, Community and Events Fundraiser at Jigsaw said, “Having the support of the congregation at St Michael’s has been amazing. Their efforts go to show how much of a difference can be made when the local community work together to support a worthy local cause. We cannot thank them all enough!”
Fittingly Margaret and the other members of the congregation have chosen to Pay For a Day at Jigsaw on 29 September 2019, which is St Michael’s Day.
Pay For a Day is a unique opportunity for every individual, family, company or organisation in Cumbria to make a real immediate contribution to the care of the most vulnerable children in our community. It allows people the opportunity to pay for the entire running costs of the children’s hospice service – for a whole 24 hours. People can choose the day – and also choose how to raise the £2,126.46 to Pay For a Day.
If you would like to find out more information about how you can Pay For a Day or about the care, support and activities provided by Jigsaw please visit www.jigsawhospice.org or call the Fundraising Team on 01228 810801.
