For the first time since the 1960s, a Dumfries Lenten institution can’t go ahead because of the pandemic.
Last year’s Covid-19 lockdown came mid-way through the series of Friday fundraising lunches which are staged by teams of volunteers from 11 churches across Dumfries and the town’s Fairtrade Group.
It had been well supported by the public up until the enforced closure.
And generations of supporters – who hail the lunches as “the harbinger of spring” locally – dug deep to help make up lost funding for Dumfries and District Christian Aid committee after convener, Alison Wright appealed for help.
This Lent there aren't any lunches because of restrictions on gatherings.
Alison said: “It is the first time since the 1960’s the Lenten Lunches for Christian Aid have not taken place.
“Christian Aid has been part of life in Dumfries since the 1960’s with our events such as the soup lunches for Lent in the spring, Christian Aid week in May and the coffee morning being very well supported.”
During the decades they have raised many thousands of pounds and helped hundreds of people and projects.
Alison said: “In 2019 – the last “normal” year – we raised almost £21,000, with the Soup raising almost £5,000 of that.”
It was enough money to enable 80 children in Bangladesh to go to school for a year.
The convener added: “Christian Aid is now 75 years old and this year the Lent and Easter appeal is focused on looking forward as well as reflecting on the past.
“We are so looking forward to welcoming folks to events in the future. We know how important the regular Christian Aid events are in bringing people together as well as raising much-needed funds.”
The team are asking for donations to Christian Aid’s development work via the Christian Aid website at www.christianaid.org.uk/ for the worthwhile, and often life-saving, projects they support.
In the meantime, Dumfries Fairtrade Group held an online coffee morning, on Saturday.
Meeting by Zoom via www.dumfriesfairtrade.org.uk or their Facebook page, anyone joining needs to make their drink but can enjoy a quiz, short films and recipes as part of this year’s campaign to increase awareness of Fairtrade and climate change.
