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Mystery jars making lives better
Who doesn't love a creative fundraising idea? Check out Taupo Corps' wonderful way of raising money for The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga's Women's Ministries Project for 2017! Got some great photos of your own fundraising efforts? Tag us with #WMProject2017 on FB!
In July this year, The Salvation Army Taupo Corps Women's Fellowship held a special fundraising for our WM (Women's Ministries) Project for 2017 - The Haven and Sunshine Home in Sri Lanka.
The Haven Sri Lanka: This particular centre provides full time residential care and a pre-school for children who are orphaned or separated from family. There are beds, counselling and specialist support networks for up to 10 single mothers, from pregnancy to birth. There are also adoption services provided if they are unable to safely care for their children.
Sunshine Home Sri Lanka: The Sunshine Home provides safety and shelter for up to 60 teenage girls who have been referred by the court system. The majority have experienced multiple forms of abuse and some are trafficking victims. Specialist services are available to those who are pregnant, and continues until court decisions have been concluded.
Mystery in a bottle....
We called our event the ‘Mystery Bottle Auction Fundraiser’ – and women were instructed to fill up bottles and jars up with items and wrap them to bring for ‘auction’. There was a recommended price range of between $5 and $10 for the items filling the containers.
As each of us arrived and brought our mystery objects, there grew an air of anticipation!
Seated around two tables are nine ladies from our Women's Fellowship group, including Major Kath. One of the ladies had a visiting grandson who became the auctioneer assistant to Major Keith Wray - and a fine job they both did, too! Also in attendance was my own granddaughter, who has become a regular these days.
When everyone was present, a third table was filled with the wrapped bottles and jars of all sizes and shapes. You definitely couldn't tell what they were!
The intense auction!
The bidding started moderately around $6 to $8… then as friendly rivalry started we began reaching the $10 to $15 mark! It was getting intense - there were serious faces, darting eyes, shouts of victory and laughter throughout. At the climax we reached the crazy amount of $20 twice!
When the bidding was over, we started opening our surprises and having afternoon tea.
The kinds of items inside our mystery jars were varied. Some got jam jars full of mixed raisins and nuts, licorice, chocolate, honey, jam, relish, potpourri and even some rolled up gloves! There were also bottles of household cleaners, body washes, hand creams, and liquid soaps. Surprises galore!
While all this was going on, Major Keith tallied and collected the amount everyone owed, and collated the final amount. On the day we raised $326.50, and since then, others who were away have offered to give a donation making our final amount raised was $350.10.
We are hoping that others might volunteer to contribute as it's such a worthy cause.
WM looks forward to seeing what creative ideas you have been coming up with over the year to raise money for your WM Project for 2017 - The Haven and Sunshine Homes in Sri Lanka! Please tag us on Facebook if you would like with #WMProject2017 to see your team's efforts shared with the wider Salvation Army!
Keep up the GREAT work!
By Tracy Andrews
The Salvation Army Taupo Corps | Soldier
WM Writer