Hi, Ive always liked helping people and was led to join the New Life Church at Riverton on their mission trip to Labasa, Fiji in July. It was an amazing experience and I need to go back next July to finalise what I started. The women over there have it quite hard and its them Id like to help the most. I need to fundraise to be able to go and I have already had a Cake Bake. Im planning a Garage Sale for the 6th of Nov 2010 as the one I had last time was so successful.
Any household items (not too big) donated would be gratefully received. If anyone wanted to make a donation through internet banking please contact me via my Grown Ups email addy for details. Also if anyone has any ideas of other things I could do to fundraise Id be very pleased to hear them. They need to be things I can do basically on my own. Thank you and I hope you can make it to the sale (there will also be teas and coffees and a sausage sizzle).

Glen, a couple from the church I go to went on holiday to Fiji and couldn't believe the poverty some villagers in some areas lived in.

They visited a Baptist Church in one area and when they came home told our church of this tiny church and the plight of it's parishioners.

Our church now, has a ministry for this Fijian church and its community. We fundraise for it, send goods over to the people and do an annual mission trip and help out there.

I wish you every success with your ministry.

I know you will fundraise and spend the money on essential things but don't forget to reach out to your community. Get in touch with your local community paper and get them onside.

The local clinic near our little church needed medical supplies so we asked people to donate new bandages, band aids etc. We got hundreds donated. The same thing was done for Bibles etc. There is so much that can be done with little effort.

Again, good luck and God bless!

Hi Going-Grey,
Thanks for your comments. We dont realise how well off we are until seeing how some people have to live. We cant be everywhere and help everybody but if I can do my little bit then I will be happy.
Kind regards,
Glen

Are you doing this fundraising by yourself or do you have helpers? And how physical do you want to get?

Im doing most of it by myself. There are probably only 3 or 4 of us going (one of those the pastor). One of the others and I will be organising a couple of bigger events such as a garage sale and/or a games evening and another Cake Bake which I will have a bit of help for, but I really need to be working away at it to raise as much as I can to cover my own airfares etc.
Unfortunately I cant do anything too physical, I have a bad back, but Im keen to hear any ideas. I have just run a raffle and will do a few more over the next 10 months but Id like to come up with some different ideas if I can.
I hope you arent getting the bad weather we are today, we've had rain, sleet and snow, then lightening, thunder and hail!
Regards,
Glen

How's the fundraising going, Glen?

Hi Going-Grey,
I have been so busy, including doing the fund raising, I havent had much time to come in here!
It is going well thank you. The garage sale was a great success and we've have a couple of cake bakes which do very well too.
Ive also been fund raising for Christchurch too as well as everything else I have on the go, so it all keeps me busy!
Hope you are all well up in the North.

Going Grey hasnt been in here since before Christmas...I think one veiwer was very rude to her, but I hope she sees this and comes back.

Good on you Glen1, what a selfless person, thinking of others less fortunate than yourself. Yes, lots of fundraising going on everywhere for the folk in Christchurch at the moment. All the best with your fundraising for Fiji also by the way, brilliant stuff