Fundraising during war and peace time

#VictoryRationsProject

‘The War Effort’. A familiar phrase from films, books, documentary, and family memory; but what actually did it mean and involve?

Fundamentally ‘The War Effort’ refers to everything and anything that is being done by civilians, industry, auxiliary forces, and government, to aide the swift and conclusive victory the nation and its allies aimed to achieve. One significant part of this was fundraising and charitable works. Whether it was housewives donating the aluminum of their spare saucepans to be melted down for building spitfires, knitting socks for front line soldiers, or donating money to collections to fund aid for refugees, the fundraising efforts were widespread, varied and invaluable to supporting those fighting the war and effected by it. It also gave the families left behind on the home front, a sense of purpose, a distraction from the worry about safety of loved ones, and a moral boosting belief that they too were making a difference.

Today we are still fundraisers. Here in the UK, I am proud to consider charity as an underpinning core value of our society. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming when we are bombarded via tv, radio, unsolicited mail, paper media, and online social platforms, with requests for donations to emergency funds, health campaigns, environmental/wildlife/animal causes, and more recently refugees from the Russia/Ukraine conflict. But I don’t know anyone, who if they have a few copper coins in their pockets, won’t reach for them when faced with a shaken bucket for a worthy cause. Not everyone can give money; some give time, or donate second hand goods, or simply click the share button on social media posts to raise awareness amongst other people who may be able to contribute. It all makes a difference.

In the spirit of the 1940s housewives, children, and reserved occupation workers on Britain’s Home Front, who sacrificed so much, I have decided to give conscious thought to my own ‘war effort’ fundraising during the month of our Victory Rations Project.

I can’t afford to donate much money, even with the savings we hope to make on the housekeeping bills by eating on the ration… but I can donate my time by writing this blog, I can keep you updated on social media about the efforts of the Ukraine Aid effort that I donated a box of goods to in March…

…and I can ask, maybe, if you use a recipe from these blogs, or simply enjoy following our experiences on this project, you could consider donating in some form to one of the following causes connected to the theme of the Victory Rations Project. Thank you.

Support for Veterans and their families

Whether war is right or wrong, it changes lives. Scars of conflict are many, varied, and cut deeply. Life changing injuries such a head trauma, or limb loss… or ‘hidden’ impacts such as grief from loss of loved ones, survivors guilt, PTSD and other mental illness.

Help for Heroes and SSAFA are two charities that help.

Find out more: https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/ and https://www.ssafa.org.uk/

Support for Refugees

Across the world, people are running from war, persecution, and violence. Imagine leaving your home, loved ones, and your whole life behind, and risking the dangers of travel, the indignity of hunger and sanitary deprivation, just to keep your children safe, just to survive.

In recent weeks, the horror of humanitarian crisis has been brought to our doorstep, and tv screens, as war returns to Europe.

Local charities and global organisations are all making a difference.

Refugees most commonly include women, and particularly children. Children who should be playing at home and learning in school.

Help can be given via: Unicef https://www.unicef.org.uk/ Action Aid https://www.actionaid.org.uk/ and Disasters Emergency Committee https://www.dec.org.uk/

For an example of a grassroots community project, specific to helping refugees on the Ukraine border see Ukraine Sunflower Aid, founded from a Sussex market town in March 2022. https://www.facebook.com/sunfloweraid

Support for homeless people

Following the years of the Second World War, homelessness levels rocketed, as families were displaced from bombed out cities, and soldiers returning home to a depressed economy and lost families, had nowhere to go. Today, it is as big a problem as ever. In December 2019 Shelter estimated that 280,000 people were homeless in England, although this figure is very likely to be far greater. And homelessness can effect anyone; a family breakdown, loss of employment meaning rent demands cant be met…

National charities include Shelter and Crisis, or ‘google’ local efforts in your town.

Find out more: https://www.shelter.org.uk/ and https://www.crisis.org.uk/

https://www.homeless.org.uk/

Any donations you can give; any clicks/shares, and support, will make a difference. It will improve someone’s life today. Please. Help as generously as you can.

(Disclaimer: Of course, there are far more charities than I can mention here. These are just examples. It goes without saying I am not personally affiliated with or being paid by any of these charities in any capacity.)