Update
The Jam Jar Army (a community based fundraising initiative had raised £12,868 for Hospice Care North Northumberland) by the end of 2011.
Judith O'Reilly's original personal fundraising target was £500. When she came up with the idea of the Jam Jar Army, she briefly raised that target to £1,000. When the Northumberland Gazette got on board Judith and the Gazette upped the target to £10,000.
In 2012, the Jam Jar Army started another fundraising campaign in North Northumberland, this time for Alnwick Playhouse Youth Theatre.
Original statement
This year, I decided to do a good deed a day for a year and write about it. (I've had better ideas I can tell you.) Anyway as part of that commitment, I thought it would be a good idea to raise money for charity. Better yet - let other people raise money for charity. Personally speaking, I don't want to run a marathon(although I could of course - Oh yes) or sit in a bath of cold baked beans, I'm happier drinking a nice cup of tea in my kitchen. Which takes me to jam and the Jam Jar Army.
When I was growing up there was a poor box in our house, and we filled it with coppers. Not policemen. They wouldn't fit. But coins. Good idea huh? So, why not empty your pockets and fill a jam jar with change?
It's simple. Eat the jam (that's quite important) and when the jar is empty and clean (that's not as important but it's probably better that way), fill it with all those coins you don't really want weighing down your pockets and cluttering up your handbag, your car and your house. You have officially joined the Jam Jar Army.
If you live in Northumberland (where we have launched) you can take your jar into the Northumberland Gazette office in Alnwick or the hospices in Alnwick and Berwick.(More collection points coming soon.) If you live somewhere else in the UK, you are very welcome to commit the cash from your jar here and feel good about yourself because you're making a real difference.
Our first collection is for the Hospice Care North Northumberland and goes till the September 2011.
Remember: Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never share them with anyone or send you unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. They'll make sure Gift Aid (an additional 28%) is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer, too. That means more money goes to the charity, faster, with JustGiving.
Thanks. Let's get jammy.
Judith O'Reilly
