Community Cards tops £25,000 donated to The Welcome Centre.

Community Cards total reaches £25,000, all donated to The Welcome Centre.  

What started off as a small community project, aimed at raising money for The Welcome Centre, has continued to grow year on year. With the latest cheque handed to the food bank of £4,000, the Community Cards project has now donated a massive £25,000 since it began in 2012.

Originally set up by Nigel Clews and now Chaired by Monica Bundin, Community Cards is going from strength to strength. Each week, five groups of volunteers meet to sort old greetings cards which are re-purposed and recycled to make new cards. The cards are sold in numerous outlets across Kirklees, including Shepley library and Haigh & Co hairdressers in Linthwaite, always at no more than £1 per card. 

Not only does Community Cards donate all its funds to the food bank, but by gathering groups together each week, it helps to reduce isolation within the community and enables different generations to work together. Students from Greenhead College support the weekly group based at The Hub each week, alongside a small group of retired local individuals. 

Emma Greenough, Fundraising Manager at The Welcome Centre said:

This year I went along to The Big Sort event, hosted by Community Cards. I got the chance to chat to the volunteers who meet each week and make this project work. The project is so well organised with everyone having their own role, and with the chance to meet regularly many friendships have been made. With this latest cheque of £4,000, the grand total donated since 2012 is a staggering £25,000. The recent donation of £4,000 is enough to provide 80 families with food for a week, and with more and more families needing our service, we’re truly grateful for the continued support of Community Cards.

Mairi MacKay, Community Cards Secretary said:

Community Cards would like to thank everyone who supports the project, from those who donate the cards, to everyone who buys them and not forgetting all the makers as well. It’s a delight to be able to pass on the proceeds to The Welcome Centre.

Community Cards are always in need of support and there are numerous ways to help them. 

• Donate your greetings cards, not just Christmas cards either. Community Cards sell a variety of year-round cards including birthday, sympathy, wedding and new house cards, as well as blank general use cards. All of these would be gratefully received for recycling. 
• Make cards: If you have time to spare, why not join one of the 5 groups based across the Huddersfield area. A chance to meet new people, get involved in a local charity group, and catch up with a coffee. The groups are based in Marsden, Linthwaite, Meltham, Castle Hill and Brockholes. 
• Sell Community cards: If you have a large office, a local shop or are part of a sports/community group that you could sell to, then why not have your own card sales point. 
• Buy Community Cards: With every card selling for 50p or £1, not only is this an affordable way to buy cards, but it’s environmentally friendly and raises money for The Welcome Centre food bank.  
• One off volunteering: Do you get an employee volunteering day at work? Would you like to spend it at one of the Community Cards groups or join the Big Sort? Then they’d be delighted to have you visit, so you can learn more about what they do. 

If you are interested in any of the above, then you can contact Community Cards via their website form here.