After last week’s Celtic Foundation bucket collection at Celtic Park, my 12-year-old, who was collecting, was amazed that someone put a £20 note in his bucket. He wanted to know why people do things like that.
There are lots of possible reasons. It’s the right thing to do, there are many in our community who are need, and who we would happily help if they were standing beside us. A lot has to do with upbringing, not everyone believes fraternal help services the common good, but for some, it’s part of their core values. More precisely, it’s part of the values they acquired when they took to do with their football club.
In the early decades of Celtic Football Club, people literally ‘clubbed’ together to build the first, and then second, Celtic Park, mostly without pay. An informal collection of labourers dug foundations and shovelled earth to create bankings. Many got involved years after Walfrid left for pastures news, but the way in which the community claimed ownership of the club, without actually owning a share, of course, gave you and me an enormously privileged heritage.
We have a back narrative which most 21st century organisations could never dream of attaining.
I know that £20 is a lot of money to put into a bucket, but this year I’ve seen many people do this, and so much more, in the name of Celtic.
A year ago the CQN community told Mary’s Meals that we would build a school kitchen for them in Malawi. We booked the Kerrydale Suite for CQ10 and hoped we could sell more than 30 tickets. The night was sold-out and you raised over £23,000. Before the night was finished the two guys from Mary’s Meals knew they had enough money to build three school kitchens!
The money was soon put to action, all three kitchens were completed by May. Each day over 2000 primary-age children eat what is often their only meal of the day in a facility you paid for, prepared with utensils you bought.
The UN reckon Malawi is the 17th poorest country on the planet, but it is fertile for development work. 93% of the money raised by Mary’s Meals reaches the target communities. The kids being fed in CQN kitchens for the last 7 months are heavier and healthier than before. School attendance has increased by over 30%, so kids who previously had to labour for food are now getting an education instead.
They will have better life-choices as adults and more of them will be alive long enough to become adults.
The CQNers who started our charity activities nearly a decade ago are the golfers, they did so again in July, then there was the runners, the badge collectors and the many who were just touched by one story or another and stepped forward.
One of the reasons many of you should be proud of yourself is the Kano Foundation. Kano – Martin Kane – was one of the original CQNers, who got up in the middle of the night in Perth W. Australia to watch his team, and argue with his pals on here. When he suffered an enormously debilitating illness a community grew up around him, which became the Kano Foundation, and has since brought thousands of kids to see Celtic.
This week we learned Kano is seriously ill in hospital, so the seasonal cheer is tempered.
Whatever your memories of 2014 are, they will also be tempered by the challenges Wee Oscar and his family went through. I know there are people who made an enormous difference to his life who first read about him here. The stories of the work they put in will never be told, because that’s the way they want it, but they made a profound impact on the world.
2015 has a hard act to follow, but we’ve told Mary’s Meals we’ll build them another school kitchen, and we’ve just told Celtic to book the Kerrydale Suite for Friday 13th March for CQ11. It’s St Patrick’s weekend, it’s League Cup Final weekend and it’s the week of the 50th anniversary of Jock Stein taking over; it has the making of a memorable night…..
Why do people put £20 into a bucket, why do thousands give anonymously throughout the year, why do hundreds go above and beyond the call of duty? If you think Celtic is a football club, you’ve not been paying attention. It is the most powerful social movement most of us will ever become involved with.
It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of the family and humbling to see it in action.
Have a great Christmas, you deserve it.
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Great to be part of this family- what an achievement over the last ten years.
So to all of you – The Golfers, The BB clique, Moonhowlers, Mineshafters, Happy Clappersthe, BV clique, Cyclists, Buckateers, Quizzers and all the special individuals I have met over the years – a very peaceful and loving Christmas to you all.
Hail hail
Nearly time to ask
Where is the receipt
SOAL
Best wishes to you and your lovely family.
EDB
Thanks mucker
Love and a song for U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5dwksSbD34
Mr HC
the spirit of arthur lee
23:27 on 24 December, 2014
The only thing I don’t do is hand round the Plate…:)
Love
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
HT
I used to leave out a large glass of malt whisky and a carrot. Guess what was always still there untouched in the morning?!
Congratulations on tonight. You could sense through your post that you were busting with pride. And quite rightly so.
NS
SOAL
Carmen rollers for ‘that’ beerd? http://cdn.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/images/740×500/dimg/m_img_21041.jpg
67 Heaven
Any excuse
The stones. . . . .loving cup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtJ34oFnpog
Very best Christmas wishes to each and every one of you…even the hunterlopers. Baby sound asleep, waiting for Santa. Thanks to good god I have the time together with my family. Thinking of those who are not so fortunate. Have a good one folks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus
Paul67,just want to wish you and your family a happy and holy Christmas.
I would like to wish the same to all the posters on here as well,maybe next year I might even make an effort to put a face to some names.
HH
Merry Christmas A’body!
Enjoy it with your loved ones as if it’s your last. Especially Airdrie fans ;-)
I would like to wish everyone on CQN a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.
You have a forum full of very generous members.
Keep up the good work.
“Hail Hail”
Good Evening fholks
Wee Shays 12 weeks to Christmas is now over. Time to count up all those coins saved. Merry Christmas and thank you. Please email me at celticrollercoaster@yahoo.co.uk for donate details.
HH
CRC
Merry Christmas all ..especially the less fortunate than ourselves….except them huns .
Forgive me Lord ..I canny help myself :O)
The Blue Nile. . . . Family Life.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=blue%20nile%20family%20life&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDEQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmyILQiYNdSo&ei=P1CbVJjOM8fzauvsgpAF&usg=AFQjCNEarAZRQshMVJtWuZcxzCNkgPk0qQ&bvm=bv.82001339,d.d2s
Dear Santa,
Please bring me a good old traditional ,from my youth type of Xmas present.
Something that for people like me is the perfect Xmas box. Something that you don’t see being exchanged these days but none the less is really appreciated by the the recipient.
Something that the giver spent a few shills on and wasn’t afraid to buck the trend.
Something like 40 fegs or 2oz of Golden Virginia.
Go raibh( cough!) maith agat.
SOAL
Thank you. And that’s from my girls also.
big archie
Do you know auld lennybhoy aswell:))
along with coatdykebhoy welcome to the madhouse.
Big Archie, I’ll look forward to those exchanges.
Merry Christmas Paul67 and all at CQN, including hun interlopers.
Ho
Ho
Ho
Jim Byrne R.I.P
HT
only good yins get emotional:)))) congratulations
Merry Christmas Bhoys and Ghirls
HH
CRC
Agus
Nollaig shona do gach duine anseo
ITS CHRISTMAS
LOVE
Merry Christmas CQN.
Merry Xmas …to all….have a braw braw day …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=KNjfrzNI0q8
Quadrofenians
’67
A Happy and Blessed Christmas to you all.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Hail Hail and Merry Christmas CQN
YNWA
Merry Christmas from a hun free mountain valley.
Thanks bhoys for all the wonderful times, it’s been magic, there’s no a club like us on the planet.
” Somos el Celtic ”
HH
PS
Just been given the most wonderful prezies ever.
A bit of the Celtic turf encased in a mould.
And a paving stone that will be laid on the Celtic Way
Over the feckin moon so I am.
And they say it’s only weans that get hyper at Christmas :)
God Bless Everyone in the Celtic Family.. Thank you all for supporting the Food bank this year, and for the many many other great charities you have embraced and given so much too. We are not a football club, but a fellowship of people who have a heart and soul that gives so much without favour or asks anything in return. Without you, this world would be a poorer place. God Bless you all.
Merry Christmas
and thank you for being here.
EDB
You came into my thoughts again today,have a braw day
leftclicktic
23:57 on 24 December, 2014
Haw you less of the auld and aye he does know me. Thanks for the Prayers for Jim.
doc:
big archie is a good Ghuy.
A happy and Blessed Christmas to you both my friends.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Lennybhoy
Sad news about your mate, thoughts for you and all the family.
HH
Merry Christmas Tim Land
Hail Hail The Prezies Are Here
Jamesgang
Hugs to you & yours
Good night all
I am blessed in life.
Merry Christmas Paul and all on CQN
HH