I would like to tell you a little story. About pancakes.
Just over two weeks ago the HR Director at work replied to an email I sent months earlier. In my email, I shared with her a few ideas regarding charity events our office could get involved in. To my surprise I received an email saying "great idea. You are now in the charity committee". Charity committee? I didn't even know we had one! Nor was I aware of being in the running for a seat...
With my new social status the responsibility (and reason) kicked in. After all, having presented a few ideas I now had to deliver. "Hmm...a healthy picnic to celebrate the first day of the Spring could work out - except that I was in a training that day. Ooops. Next idea. Easter events wouldn't work either since I am away most of April...Think Brain, think!
PANCAKE DAY!
I can organize a pancake day in our office! Pancakes are so cheap to make and everyone loves them! This is a foolproof idea!". Yes. If you have more than just 5 days to put the event together. And if you have any clue how to put together a fundraising event. Or can make pancakes for that matter...
And yet, something was telling me it could work. I just had to give it all my attention and will. Luckily motivation is not difficult to find when you know the money you're raising can save lives.
You see, when I moved to my current address I met someone who works for Oxfam. Although I admit that I used to be sceptical about large charities since I started getting all the "inside" stories from my housemate, I realized what an amazing and difficult job these guys are doing. And I wanted to be a part of it.
I got in touch with a lovely girl looking after a few of Oxfam's projects who turned my attention to Mother Appeal, a programme empowering mothers across Asia and Africa. Having seen the work Oxfam does from up close I knew that the money my pancakes would raise could actually change someone's life. And what can be more motivating than a perspective that just a few days of your work might mean that somewhere in the other corner of the world a family would not starve anymore? or that some woman will have courage to start her own business and send her child to university? All that potential from just few pancakes! It was a really tempting perspective. So tempting in fact that I decided to try.
The 4th of March, the official pancake day, was getting closer and closer. I figured out I would need around 120 pancakes, going for £2.50 each, if I wanted to raise £300. But would people pay £2.50 for a pancake? I knew they pay even more for a crepes in restaurants or from street creperies, but somehow my knowledge of psychology and experience were telling me that people will not be willing to pay this much for homemade pancakes, even for a charity. I put the price down to £1.50. But what about the rest of the money?!? I needed to think again. I thought of a raffle.
With the little time remaining till the Pancake Day, I was left with no choice but to use the resources I had at hand. I first thought of anyone I know who could provide any "raffable" goods. Except for a boyfriend of my work colleague who was kind enough to provide us with a free massage for the lucky winner, and a few cosmetics from another friend, I did not have many options. But when life closes the door, you need to break in through the window ;)
I spent my Monday evening going from one local restaurant to another, stopping also in some cinemas on the way and a little spa. And I was shocked how willing people were to help! A few restaurants provided vouchers for dinners for two, another place offered free drinks; even the spa got involved and offered a deep relaxation massage. All I had to do was ask!
With the great raffle prizes (and a restored faith in humanity) I was almost ready for the pancake extravaganza. 2 hours into the night and many pancakes later, I nearly started to believe that this fundraiser could actually work.
Lowering down the price of the pancakes was definitely a good idea as it drew more "customers" and thus the attention. Thanks to the buzz around the pancake station in the morning I could then just leave out the donation's box next to the price list and attend to the demands of what turned out to be a very busy working day. By the lunchtime I had over £150! and the day was not finished just yet! Raffle turned out to be a spot on idea. With a single ticket costing £1 and with special "deal" of 5 tickets for £3 or 10 for £5 we sold almost 400 tickets. Sure, my colleague and I had to personally speak to almost one hundred people in my office, each time explaining the prices and prizes (sadly only few people were actually interested in the cause the money was supporting). But we raised over £200 in just one hour. The rest of the money came from the website I created for donations from external partners or friends, and from the few afternoon sugar cravings. At the end of the day my little metal box contained £394! At that point I thought my happiness could not have been higher, but life was about to pleasantly surprise me.
Every time I stay at work late I see a young Muslim woman who cleans our office. We would exchange a few pleasantries and engage in a quick small talk, but I knew very little about her and she knew even less about me. The day before the Pancake Day I stayed late to set up the tables in preparation of my pancake station. For the first time we had an actual conversation. It turned out she was a supporter of a few charities herself and became very interested in our fundraiser. On Tuesday, after our pancake success, I saw her again. She asked how much we've raised and if she could take the last few pancakes for her brother. We only had two of them left and I had closed my little "pancake bank" by that time, so I told her to just take whatever was still there for free. You can imagine how touched I was to find the £6 next to the empty plate? This woman decided to give half of what she was getting that evening to a charity!
So we raised £400 in one day. It was then matched by our company. And further doubled by the UK government. Just by eating pancakes and trying our luck in a raffle my colleagues made a donation of £1600! This has bought over 900 bars of soap for areas where personal hygiene can save your life. It bought training to dozens of women, making them realize what rights they have as humans. It bought tons of seeds and tools to end famine. All that from a few people frying a few pancakes.
Think about all the pancakes you've eaten throughout your life. Think about the change you could make. Just think. And start helping. Because we've got more power to make a difference than we could ever imagine.
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