Carol singers on song for overseas communities
Local carol singers fundraising will help bring practical gifts to communities across the world this Christmas.
On Tuesday 13 December, a group of carollers and musicians from Blessed Sacrament in Exeter put on a wonderful performance in their local Tesco.
The group of singers were accompanied by a flautist, guitarist and violinist, and returned to the store after performing for Christmas shoppers last year.
The performance raised over £275 which they will be donating to aid agency CAFOD and will help to buy practical gifts for communities across the world this Christmas, through the charity’s World Gifts Scheme.
CAFOD volunteer Chris Wightman, who helped organise the performance, said: “I must admit that standing in the foyer at Tesco’s watching the group sing, reminded me more of Australia than the usual cold and damp December evenings that we are used to!
“Thank you to everyone who came and I would like to say well done everyone and many thanks for giving your talents and time to help others less fortunate than ourselves.”
CAFOD is celebrating twelve years of World Gifts, which were established to help make a difference to people living in poverty. The scheme has raised over £12 million, enabling thousands of presents to be brought by CAFOD supporters including 103,000 school starter kits, 46,000 goats, 38,000 chickens and 3,000 queen bees. Last year alone, communities in England and Wales taught over 4,000 children to read through fundraising for World gifts.
This Christmas, communities across the country will choose from a range of gifts from The Goat that Gives, which will provide a family with up to 12 pints of milk a week, to Community Water Supply, which provides the materials and training to provide water and hope for an entire community. The Begin a Business gift provides the means to create a business; from beekeeping, vegetable selling, carpentry and farming, and it enables individuals and families to lift themselves out of poverty.
CAFOD representative in Exeter, Simon Giarchi, said: “Thank you to the carollers who organised this festive fundraising at Christmastime – I’m sure it made many people’s Christmas shopping a bit brighter!
“The money that they have raised will provide meaningful gifts that will make a huge difference to lives of so many communities around the world and help transform lives this Christmas.”
The group will be returning to the supermarket on Wednesday 21 December, where they will be singing Christmas carols and hopefully, spreading some festive cheer.
To find out more about CAFOD’s World Gifts, please visit: www.cafod.org.uk/worldgifts
