A Newry-based charitable organisation that began five years ago with “a bucket at the front door” using “kitchen tiles as a vision board” has in that time become a cornerstone in its community – now running a “home from home” cafe, a host of continuous free activities and catering for a total of 92 families on a growing Christmas list.
Started by best friends Kerrie Havern and Yvonne Campbell at Kerrie’s Bessbrook front door in 2020, Caring Coins Association has always held that “our community is our responsibility”.
Taking responsibility for their community back in 2020, the pair encouraged people to drop their loose change into their “doorstep bucket”. The £1,300 they raised in just four short weeks was then used to purchase necessities for frontline workers at Daisy Hill Hospital.
As they watched four full cages of supplies wheeled away Kerrie describes the handover of the necessities as “profound” – a day that had a lasting impact.
The bucket that started it all and the very grateful frontline staff at Daisy Hill Hospital
Today, their commitment to others continues with the volunteer-run organisation heading up a Newry-based community cafe, single parent support groups, menopause cafes, empowerment groups, bingo events, fun days, craft sessions and so much more – all alongside ensuring a steady stream of referrals are catered for on the run-up to Christmas.
So far this year, they have 92 families referred for help with Christmas and Kerrie says there is more to come.
Speaking to Armagh I, Kerrie explained the Christmas appeal: “We have a working partnership with local charities and organisations that work directly with families.
“Women’s Aid, for example, would be working with a family and say they have nine families in the refuge and they know that the only difference between September, when I start the appeal, and the end of the appeal is that they may have a home, so they will still genuinely need help for Christmas.
“They identify the families in need and then they give that family to me in a code. It will list what age the children are and what they would like from Santa and then we allocate a certain amount based on the child’s age, between £100 and £200.
“People can either sponsor the child by sending us the money or they can choose to sponsor the child and go do the shopping.
Last year’s Christmas shopping for one child (left) and a group enjoying a crafting session at Caring Coins Community Cafe
This year, Caring Coins’ first Christmas list was sponsored “completely financially” within 24 hours. Every child on their second list has a sponsor who will shop for them. Kerrie completed the shopping for the third list last week and it has already been delivered.
While Kerrie has set a slightly earlier November 15 cut-off for Christmas shopping this year, she ensures that any additional funds raised for Christmas will be put towards the purchase of food hampers, food vouchers and coal and logs for pensioners.
As Kerrie says: “We look after everybody in the community as much as we can.”
And, that idea of looking after people can be seen in action every day of the week at the Caring Coins Community Cafe at 10a Upper Edward Street, where the food is affordable and the craic is free!
“The ethos is that it’s an affordable place for anyone to come to,” continued Kerrie.
“We are trying to fight social isolation and loneliness so all of our tables are shared tables and all of our cups are on the wall.
“When you come in and ask for a coffee you are told to pick a cup the same way you would at home.
“The toasties, no matter what you put in them, are £3, and so are the sandwiches, all of our traybakes are £1.50 and a big scone with cream, butter and jam is £1.50 and tea is £1.20. Essentially, if you have £2.70 to your name you can come in, have a tea, a chat and a traybake.
“With children we have pancake platter which is £2.20 and it comes with two jumbo pancakes and on another plate sprinkles, marshmallows, Nutella and jam.”
A volunteer cook at Caring Coins Community Cafe
The team rely largely on the support of the public through donations and sponsorship from businesses to keep these prices but they also need the cafe to be supported in order for it to stay open.
This year, a number of committee members will be hosting a fundraising Thanksgiving celebration to ease the financial burden.
“We have maybe three events between now and Christmas including Thanksgiving, as we have an American couple on our committee,” explained Kerrie. “This year they have brought on another man to help them and they are aiming to raise £12,000 to cover our rent for the year and then we won’t have that to worry about.”
It’s a constant cycle at Caring Coins; finding time to care for their community, brainstorming and organising their next events, managing their day-to-day and planning for the year ahead.
To ease the mounting pressure on themselves and the families they support on the run-up to Christmas, the team are encouraging businesses who wish to help to donate now.
Kerrie makes it clear that every coin counts and every coin is used to care.
“These people are already under severe mental strain and anxiety so the sooner we get them sorted the sooner they can focus on themselves and continue to try their hardest to get into a better place,” said Kerrie.
“Last year we were donated £1,000 in December but all of my toys were gone and I needed it earlier. But, what we did with that then was to make a partnership with the Southern Age Well Network and we sent 70 groups vouchers for coffee, milk and biscuits so that those people were able to meet up and have a coffee at Christmas rather than be on their own.
“If you send us money we will find a way to use it and get the most out of it.”
