DropBy

I am the Founder and Chairman of Barnet Campaign to End Loneliness.

With the permission of Mary B I am making this announcement here. We will promote each other. I would welcome contact from anyone in the Barnet or surrounding areas.

charity certainly does begin at home.  through the media of the television, billboardings and blurb shoved through the letterbox, begging for money,  you cant get away from it.

the tv sends one into paroxysms of grief over humans and animals at home and in far flung corners of the world, for those in needy and impoverished circumstances.

i  have contributed over the decades to some of my favourite charities, the salvation army being one.  they use the money all year round and dont pay themselves vast obscene salaries for the pleasure of doing so.

i have also contributed this year to the n.s.p.c.c.  for their christmas appeal. i find it is not exactly for christmas.  i wrote a letter to them at their head office, asking them if they have a scheme which allows folk like me to  send a little gift to a particular child of their choice as an unknown donor.  i didnt want to know the childs details, just to send one to a child that didnt get presents at christmas. 

you wouldnt believe how hard it is to do. the n.s.p.c.c. have no facility for giving things to children.  i was, when i telephoned, bandied around from county to county, from department to department to try would i achieve my aim.  in the end i gave up.  they refused to help me.

i tried different charities and social services.  not one would help.  apart from the fact the charities all put me through to fund raiding departments to get my money, no one actually seemed to want to make a childs christmas and help me.

i can no longer foster and adopt.  i dont believe in the governments scheme either of visiting a child in care. i tried that too.  one is only allowed to visit once a month, and only if you fling enough money at it, by taking the child to expensive places.  some message one is giving the child.  i thought about doing that and decided against it.  if you put money in the childs face instead of love, it doesnt give it the right view on relationships.

so, i abandoned that idea, for other reasons too.  they would not allow me to take my carer, even though they are crying out for men to take children out, and even though he was a good teacher.  he wouldnt be teaching them just listening and talking.

what is it about bureaucracy that makes me want to spit.  i get so angry.

i have tried all avenues to give a child a gift and no-one wants to know.

i felt it would be a good thing to do.  isnt it, or am i wrong.

whatever, i have given up. 

MaryB, DropBy Founder, with the new Mayor of Waverley, Cllr Tony Gordon-Smith who was elected as the new Mayor of Waverley at the annual council meeting held on Tuesday 8 May 2012. 

"We are so excited to be one of The Mayor's charities for this year" said MaryB, "it will really help us raise our profile in the Waverley area. We are asking for help to reach and teach older people who might enjoy being part of the DropBy community. We are also asking local businesses to donate their older computers and laptops to the charity so we can find them new owners who were feeling very isolated but who can now join the supportive DropBy community."

Three trustees of the new DropBy charity attended the Mayor's inauguration and then met and talked to Councillors, previous Mayor's of Waverley and other dignitaries about their work. A fun evening was enjoyed by all.

For more details please use the following link: http://www.waverley.gov.uk/news/article/719/cllr_tony_gordon-smith_is_elected_as_the_mayor_of_waverley  

Founded in 1981, the American Women of Berkshire and Surrey www.awbs.org.uk is a not-for-profit voluntary club that provides social, cultural, educational and philanthropic opportunities for over 300 expatriate and local members from over 20 countries.

Since 2004, £86,000 has been distributed to local Surrey charities, including White Lodge, AGE Concern Spelthorne, Quest Riding for the Disabled, and The Family Contact Centre Camberley and District.

Press Release: 

One of the region’s leading fund-raising fairs will take place at Ascot Racecourse on Friday 4 November from 9.30am to 3.00pm. Surrey residents can get a head start on their Christmas shopping and avoid the London crowds at the American Women of Berkshire and Surrey’s 28th Holiday Craft and Gift Fayre. The event is the major fund-raiser for the local international women’s club, with all the Fayre’s proceeds funding Berkshire and Surrey charities.

The Fayre will bring together six members of the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen who will be showing their wares for the first time. Lora DeSemple, AWBS President said, “The stunning historic Pavilion ballroom complex at Ascot Racecourse has been a real draw and allowed us sign up exhibitors from major London and UK events including the Spirit of Christmas and the Country Living Fairs, the Chelsea Flower Show, and Crufts. We have worked all summer to generate interest in our event and been overwhelmed by the response. Our members nominated their favourite companies and we painstakingly researched others from as far afield as West Yorkshire, Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, Brighton and Bournemouth to fill in the missing gaps.

Our Surrey Guild craftspeople were selected to add a local feel to the event alongside artists, designers and craftspeople from London art groups like Hidden Art London and Cockpit Arts. The end result is we have a range of over 90 superb art, bags and leather goods, books and stationery, ceramics, fashion, glass, health and beauty, home and interior accessories, jewellery, luxury gifts and woodcraft exhibitors. In other words, something for everyone in a hassle free environment!”

Jenefer Ham, glass artist and Chairman of the Surrey Guild, said “Our members: Carolyn Wallis Handweaver, Elizabeth Campbell Jewellery, Frank Higgins from Kaleidoscope Studio, Sharon Williams hat maker from Embellished Accessories, Susan Holton Knitwear and myself are excited to be a part of this event knowing that a fraction of our sales and 100% of profits will benefit Surrey charities. The recognition of our high standards of local craftsmanship is fantastic and it's a real bonus to attend this prestigious charity event so close to home”.

Jenefer, herself an American who arrived in England some six years ago, is looking forward to meeting up with the American and international expat community at the Fayre after immersing herself into her local Guildford community. She said “My work with the Guild has made my move to England a lot easier and allowed me to meet people with common interests and a shared passion for high quality work. Thanks to groups like AWBS, other foreigners like me also have way to meet people with common interests and support their local community through fund raising for good causes.”

As well as the chance to do their seasonal shopping, visitors to the Fayre can enjoy home baked treats, gourmet food from specialty suppliers, tea and coffee, entertainment and demonstrations. With free parking available, tickets are priced at £2 with children under 17 free and available at the door.

 

 

Funds raised from the Fayre will be distributed in the spring of 2012.

AWBS is a member of the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas, Inc., an international network of 75 + volunteer clubs in 40 countries worldwide, with a total membership in excess of 15,000.

For more information contact, Leanne Evans, Vice President Philanthropy, AWBS on 0758 017 0829 or 01784 454 014. Email: awbscf@gmail.com