Launch of St Pius 10% Christmas Collection - Nominations

St Pius Christmas 10% Collection 2017
It is that time of year again when, in the context of the anticipated celebration of Christmas, we turn our minds to thinking of concrete ways for helping those less fortunate than us. As a community we aim to collect funds to distribute to charities selected by the St Pius parishioners.

All the details are provided below, plus an easy way to nominate your preferred charities.

The idea of this seasonal Collection is that a household adds up the total it spends on everything for the celebration - covering presents, food and drink, Christmas cards, decorations etc.  Each household is encouraged to make a charitable donation equivalent to a proportion of its total expenditure – the guideline for the St Pius Christmas Collection is 10% - but more or less will be equally acceptable.

Again this year, the community is requested to nominate a charity or charities, addressing the needs of the Poorest of the Poor, in three categories: (1) charities that operate locally, (2) charities that operate on a wider scale in Britain and (3) charities that operate overseas in one or several countries. It is hoped that nominations will be made in respect of effective smaller charities, who have less resource for marketing and may be less well known to the public at large.

It is a difficult task to choose between charities who work hard to alleviate the needs of people frequently bereft of the basic necessities of life. The choice from among those nominated will be made by members of the J&P Group and other St Pius parishioners, with the concurrence of the Chair of the Finance Committee and as endorsed by the clergy, on behalf of the St Pius community.   It is intended to make a shortlist of three from each of the three categories. Parishioners will be able to vote on a final selection of one charity from each category for the collection.

Normally charities selected on their own merits for previous collections will not be chosen again. A list of such charities will be exhibited in the Narthex. The result of the final selection will be announced well before the Collection is taken on 16th and 17th December. The total amount collected will be allocated to the selected charities in equal proportions. In nominating a charity, please provide a short description of it, including the address of its website and indicate whether it is category 1, 2 or 3. A form for nominating your charities is overleaf. You may nominate up to three charities. The final date for submission of nominations is 20th November.

Please complete the nomination form below, or pick up and complete a form in the church and place in the box provided in the Narthex for the St Pius Christmas 10% Collection 2017.  Alternatively, email your nomination with a short description of your nominated charity(ies) (including the categories) to StPiusInPrint@gmail.com  on or before the closing date.

It is intended that voting slips for the selected charities will be issued on 25th/26th  November and the deadline for voting will be 5th December. The Collection will be taken on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th December. In case of queries please contact Mary Fox or Michael Combes or email StPiusInPrint@gmail.com