At Royal Navy, we’re always looking for local good causes to help and support. Towards the end of 2022, it was bought to our attention by both our Almoner and Master that we should make a donation to the Cheerful Sparrows Charity.
In the past, there were Cheerful Sparrows Charities up and down the country and their aim was, and is, to provide financial assistance to the poor and needy. Sadly, the Thanet branch is the last Cheerful Sparrows Charity in the UK but one that (equally sadly) remains busy supporting the poor and distressed in our local area.
Cheerful Sparrows is, according to Janis Buckley (Chair of the Trustees) a last resort charity, or the safety net? They will provide anything from a second hand table & chairs, a bed for a child who may have been sleeping on a settee, a school uniform, or a washing machine where the choice would have been dirty clothes and paying the rent?
Every penny donated to Cheerful Sparrows is given in support. The Trustees carry out their work voluntarily whilst still trying to fund-raise so that they may continue the good work that they do. This work centres around truly the most needy in our society.
Union Lodge in Margate made Cheerful Sparrows their Master’s Charity in 2022 and were able to donate over £4,500 over the course of the year. This very much saved the Charity who were down to their last two months worth of funds having seen donations largely cease through the pandemic.
The Brethren of Royal Navy lodge voted a donation of £250 which was match-funded by the Cornwallis East Kent Freemasons Charity and a cheque for £500 was duly presented to Janis by our Charity Steward – Nigel Mann.
We are truly delighted to support Cheerful Sparrows. To learn a little more about what they do and the people that have seen benefit from the charity was both a pleasure and alarming (in equal measure). We will carry the message to other Lodges and service clubs and hope that they will likewise make donations to this amazing charity.
The post <strong>Royal Navy Lodge are pleased to Support the Cheerful Sparrows Charity</strong> appeared first on Royal Navy Lodge No. 429.