How to be philanthropic from home

First published Lockdown Edition (Issue 22), Radar Magazine

During lockdown, many charities have been unable to hold their normal fundraising events. These events raise crucial donations for extremely important causes and so, in a bid to help charities stay afloat, there have been various online fundraising activities.

Image: Katt Yukawa

Do a virtual fun-run

With a lot more time on our hands, many of us used lockdown as a way to improve our fitness levels. In fact, during the first months of lockdown there were almost one million downloads of the NHS ‘Couch to 5k’ running app. With fun-runs being a go-to for many

charity fundraising events, these have become virtual. You register online, get people to sponsor you and then complete the challenge on your own. These are a great way to motivate yourself to keep going with your new found fitness regime, whilst raising funds for important causes.

Craft to show you care

During lockdown many of us took up crafting to pass the time. Use these new skills to help those in need. Many charities, and hospitals, need knitted and crocheted items. These crafts can be completed at home and so are a great lockdown activity. There are various Facebook groups set up which allow you to find the patterns and addresses you need to use for the items.

From scarves for the homeless to pouches for rescue hedgehogs, each item made will save a life or bring a much-needed smile to someone’s face. If you want to make a tangible item that will directly help a cause that you care about, whilst allowing you to be creative, then this is perfect for you.

Charity Auctions

During the pandemic a lot of charities took to hosting virtual auctions, with many of them being held on Facebook. All money from the winning bids go towards the charity, with the items in the auction being donated. Therefore, whether you want to donate an item or win an item, you will be helping. Aberdonian charity, Mrs Murray’s Home for Stray Cats and Dogs, has held various ‘Adoption Auctions’, where people donate handmade knitted and crocheted creatures (from highland cows to unicorns) and the winning bid then adopts the creature. Whilst rescue centres were unable to rehome their animals, this was an ingenious way to keep the ‘adopt, don’t shop’ motto in everyone’s minds.

There are many ways to get involved in helping important causes. At a time when we are separated, being involved in the community helps you to feel much less isolated. Therefore, helping your mental (and physical) health as well.