Neil Dallen, Group Scout Leader recalls his extraordinary week that resulted in raising an amazing £5000 for the Haiti Disaster Fund.
The week started by asking the Ashley Centre for permission for Beavers and Cubs to collect for Haiti followed quickly by getting Marks & Spencer to agree that Scouts and Explorers could ‘bag pack’ and have a collection.
Late afternoon we got the OK from both and a letter drafted earlier in the day was quickly copied and put in the section trays for distribution. It gave a choice of 4 x 2 hour shifts on the Saturday, replies by phone, email or slip delivered to my home address. It was also emailed to all the section leaders asking them to forward it to their members.
Monday evening I was overseeing the Clearwater Beavers as my daughter was on a surprise shift so I took the opportunity to get them in a circle and ask each of them to tell of something nice that had happened to them between Christmas and now, a new baby, a present etc. Most told about a present, which gave me the opportunity to say that some people had been given things at Christmas but lost them all, whom am I talking about? Yes, a Beaver guessed and that gave me the opportunity to tell them about the collection.
Monday evening saw a quick press release to the local paper, radio stations and copies to DC etc.
Tuesday emails started coming in with volunteers for the shifts and a quick visit to the Albany and Willowlake Beaver colonies before running Cubs meant that another 40 Beavers and twenty Cubs were very aware of the collection.
Wednesday emails continued to arrive and each shift was beginning to look realistic. The phone rang and BBC Surrey wanted me to talk to their presenter on the phone live early Saturday morning.
Thursday the local paper had printed something about the collection and I started to feel confident that it would work and the £1,000 target I set may be achieved.
Friday saw 100 Scouts and 50 Explorers encouraged to do the bag packing and the shifts looking pretty full.
Saturday morning I was up early to print the posters and stick them on the buckets. I printed off some of the latest information from the Web and prepared for the ‘live’ telephone call on radio, the phone rang and I was live for about 3 minutes. (it felt like 15 minutes!). Good publicity for Scouts, the Haiti collection, the shopping centre and Marks and Spencer. (I must remember to remind them next time I want a favour!). Then off I went with bucket and posters etc. to the shopping centre to set up.
A good welcome from the Ashley centre who allowed us to set up round an unused kiosk outside Marks & Spencer. I sent an Explorer to report in to Marks and Spencer and get set up for bag packing and out came the Manager who knew nothing!
I explained that I had permission and they accepted there had been a communication failure and were extremely helpful and all went well. After an hour Beavers and Cubs were complaining that the buckets were heavy so I went round and emptied them giving myself a bucket half full of
notes and coins, it was looking good! A phone call home and the bucket was collected, before the end of the first shift I was told that the bucket contained over £600! Shift change and the rest of the money was sent home to be counted; £1,400 in the first 2 hours, unbelievable and a great morale booster and challenge for the future shifts! The money kept coming and got sent home for counting.
Saturday evening the email everyone had waited for – a total of £5,003.34. Thank you emails to the Shopping centre, Marks and Spencer and everyone involved.
Photos downloaded for the press release, article written and relax knowing that an exceptional result had been achieved for Haiti and a big thank you is due to the members of public who donated so generously.