to be disappointed that MNers haven't got off their arses and

[MardyBra]

exceeded the targets for the MN giving week?

Here's the thread link:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/2087731-Giving-Week-is-here-donate-funds-to-MNer-nominated-organisations-and-MNHQ-will-match-them?msgid=47541127

Wikipedia tells me that there are 4,800,000 monthly users of MN. So if we all just get a quid each, that'd be £4.8m. So £25k should be more than achievable.

I see that some of the causes have reached their target, but what Womens' Aid have only had just over a grand.

MN are offering to match our donations, and there's gift aid too, so it's a very effective way of donating.

A quid each. More if you can afford it.

NOW

Re: Cakes for Kids - if you look at their website it's nothing to do with a cake making business as a couple of people have suggested; the volunteers are people who enjoy baking and make cakes using ingredients paid for by themselves

If they get any money from the MN appeal (and they won't get anything if the target isn't met) then they will put it towards (I think) a networking seminar and updating their website.

Not saying it's a cause I'd support, just clarifying for people who haven't been arsed to read the blurb

Mardy - YANBU

Thanks for the reminder!
Donated.

Good for you for starting this thread Mardy - I had a go at bumping the MNHQ thread on this as I agree it seems that with the HQ match funding and 5 great charities to choose from, all nominated by Mumsnetters and many with strong links to MN, there might well be more people wanting to opt in to this opportunity with a little bit of encouragement

I'm sorry some people have given you a hard time Mardy (but I'm sure you can cope!) - the same thing happened to me once when I started a thread strongly encouraging people to give to a worthwhile cause - might have been WaterAid IIRC - seems that some people don't like suggestions regarding their charitable giving however well intentioned.

Thanks for the reminder. Donated to WA without my arse leaving the sofa at any point

Do vegans not wear wool? You know that a) much 'wool' is acrylic and b) the sheep aren't actually hurt in the process?

And yes, have totally missed the point of this thread.

BiscuitCrumb the original thread has been stickied for a week and bumped constantly without half the people on this thread noticing it. Mardy may have got some backs up but she's brought it to a whole bunch of people's attention and several of them have subsequently given. I'm sure many of them would have missed the cut-off otherwise.

Am I the only one to wonder why PDA education conflicts with someone's Vegan principles?

Yessir!

""Do vegans not wear wool? You know that a) much 'wool' is acrylic and b) the sheep aren't actually hurt in the process?""

It depends on the farming methods used.

It isn't just the treatment of animals but chemicals etc used.

I personally don't wear wool and it is a pain in the arse to find items that don't have Cashmere in, Asda went through a phase of putting really questionably (and cruelly sourced Cashmere in all their socks.

If MN knew how skint I am this week they would donate to me

Lady, I said that there was only two Charities that I would consider and some I was opposed to, because I'm Vegan and I think "cakes for kids" is a shit concept.

I also said that whilst the OP was preachy it was well meant, so no need for the criticism.

I've got better local charities, Zoe's Place (within walking distance) and really effective DA advisory charities.

I had not heard about this and have just donated

Thank you for the thread OP

I didn't know this was happening, and have now donated as a result of your thread.

Thanks for the reminder OP I saw this earlier in the week and forgot all about it I have now donated to Women's Aid.

It's fine to highlight it in case people haven't seen but a lecture just turns me off

^
This

at the idea of Pistey and Knotty getting paid! I couldn't even begin to estimate how many hours of their own time they put in to each and every blanket - coordinating donors and crafters, answering queries, collating the squares (and often condolence cards), deciding on a design, hooking it all together (not easy - 6" squares vary a LOT), personally delivering them to the recipients.

And with the Yorkhill and Billie's Blankets - little things like sewing in labels, photographing each one for FB and Twitter all take time.

Did you know that they raised over £1300 for MIND at easter? Hundreds of items were auctioned which must have taken ages to organise. All for no fee/pay.

Because they reckon that's the maximum they can afford to give, BB. You always have to put a cap on these things just in case Melinda Gates is reading and decides to throw five million to Haven on a whim, which would close down MN overnight if they had to match it.

As a good Marxist I am not supposed to do the charity thing :) but I can never convince myself, and I still do. I donate to the Scottish version of Women's Aid and I hope people take a look at that. It's a good idea.

Having said that wtf at a couple of those. Cakes for kids? As PP said there are more pressing needs if your family can't afford a cake.

They didn't have to give anything! Crikey.

Done. £3 donated to Women's Aid. All I can spare this month.

Well done on reminding me and booting me into action (meant sincerely and not pa)

Some posters have really shown themselves up on this thread!