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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Sight = site
If Big Mike Sashley uses the Easdales to buy up shares, surely Broxi Bear will get the boot for a new hero…Proxy Bear!
sevocomedygoldCSC
Merry Xmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year to all at CQN……..
Type in your address and watch the snow fall outside your house…Enjoy……..
http://www.pusher.com.au/clients/pusher-christmas-2011
Goooooooooooooooooooooood evening friends.
feelingfestiveCSC
It must be Christmas eve that’s the holiday adverts on the telly…
HH
Evening Jobo
Christmas Eve – in the Charlie Tully household.
@BelfastCelticSociety
Broony sorts out the ‘specsavers’ problems in Scottish football with his gift for match officials
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B5aTG2kIIAA4UHH.jpg:large
HH
Declan resurfaces on FF:
“don’t like this result at all, as he will maybe, put a spanner in the works now. just thought if he had got 30% he would be there to help the club ok he would be wanting to make money, and us getting 75p for a shirt, but at the end of the day we don’t make shirts
but get shirt Sponcer money will Dave sit on his hands or will he give us a extra 20% to make up the loss from what Ashley is going to put into the club, a want the club to be here for hundreds of years with the ship steadied but if David Murray did not trust Dave King when selling, had he a reason, this is just my opinion. DAVE KING KNOWS THE SCORE and how to get deals done, and has the money to buy Rangers why he was not first in the Que i have no idea, BUT I DO KNOW NO MATTER WHO WAS ON THE BOARD the guy that has the most shares, can soon get rid of who every they frigging like by hook or by crook.”
Has the lying King ‘jetted in’ to Scotland yet?
El Rangers se quema en el infierno
BSR
Aye, as well as Shamrocks and Irish Lily’s :)
HH
Just to say a big thank you to all who have already expressed a wish to be included in “Last Man Standing 2”. It’ll probably be into next week before we start responding to all of the individual emails so you won’t be forgotten.
There’s a longer ‘advert’ for this on page 1 of this article and I’ll be boring you to death with daily reminders. But for now all we need is an “I’m in” email to cqnpredictor@gmail.com
You could even do this on behalf of someone you know as a last minute Christmas Eve type Christmas Pressie ;-)
And don’t be misled by the title – it’s open to (ahem) non-men too. Please pass on to raise awareness ;-)
Jobo / CRC
Finally chilling out after travelling by car from Germany, set off at 2pm yesterday and arrived about 1pm today. First Christmas in Scotland for 15 years.
Merry Christmas Awe_naw have a great one.
A big thank you to Lennybhoy for getting me tickets for the Ne’erday Glasgow Derby. We’ll also take in the Ross County game on 27th and hopefully a wee visit to the West Brewery in Glasgow Green for some 7% Weißbier.
BSR,
I’m no linguist but I got the jist. ‘Zombies’ indeed. :-)
TGSC,
Sailing On….
Don’t miss the second half
TGSC
Same here, something about burning in hell ;-)
Big Tommy in the thick of it
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B5YHzXQCQAAP9YC.jpg:large
Get well soon big mhan
HH
“Un nuevo club con los mismos hinchas.”
Yip.
Just a wee reminder that the last contributions to the GB fund for legal fees for those arrested for singing political songs is the 26th of December. They are holding a rafffle for Celtic memorabilia. If you’re not interested fair enough, but if you want to help some young guys who have had their lives significantly disrupted (including job losses) for singing a song) heres the info’,
If you want to support on-line please send payment to paypal address- greenbrigade@hotmail.co.uk. Please remember to send as a gift. Please list what it’s for, along with Name, Phone number, Forum you’re a member of and Forum name (if applicable)
Each ticket is priced £2 and will go towards supporting our members’ legal fees.
Christmas Eve – The Celtic Way
bournesouprecipe at 17:38 on 24 December, 2014
El Rangers se quema en el infierno
After pressing the ole ‘Google Translate’ button that was just about the best article I’ve ever read on this whole episode. Some fantastic quotes in there.
May I also take this opportunity to wish you and Christina a fantastically happy Christmas and a very (ahem) fruitful New Year.
Horrid Henry
A couple of your sporting heroes here?
http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top_10_frauds_in_sports_history/sylvester_carmouche_jockey.html?state=stop
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/March-April-08/On-this-Day–Rosie-Ruiz-Fakes-Boston-Marathon-Victory.html
bournesouprecipe
17:51 on 24 December, 2014
That’s just beautiful man.
Just popped into to wish everyone on the blog a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. I hope you have a great time with your family/friends.
Vive le celtic
NA
neganon ,
Did u enjoy the joe strummer night ?
Tomorrow’s menu in the Croppie household:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B5kF5psCQAAwYNT.jpg:large
bluepitchmargheritastofollowfollowCSC
JINGLE BELLS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FELLOW TIMS, TO YOUR FAMILIES, AND TO THE ENTIRE CELTIC FAMILY……..HAIL HAIL
Jobo
It’s a Christmas cracker isn’t it.
Picturing The entire Balde clan huddled round, listening to ole Baron von Balde strumming his classic guitar, to a host of festive ditties.
I might get Christina swing by the Gazebo for the Ross County game.
Enjoy
HH
With Paul’s leader today comes the realization of why I support Celtic, plain and simple.
I don’t support Celtic because of multi-millionaire and billionaire board members, I support in spite of them. They will pass us by, as all do on this mortal coil, Celtic will remain for our children to come.
In the interim I will enjoy wearing the Hoops around town where I live and assess the 2015/16 season when it commences. Until then, I won’t speculate, jump to conclusions, or make unfounded statements over which I have no proof. For all those contemplating the ongoing charade and corruption of the hun, I invite all to adopt this outlook, you’ll find it is leaves you with surprising relief and lightness.
Happy Christmas to the Celtic family and in particular to Paul for your selfless work on our behalf.
pogmathonyahun aka laird of the smiles
17:43 on 24 December, 2014
Your welcome mate, see you soon.
A Happy and Holy Christmas to you and the family.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
roy croppie
18:04 on 24 December, 2014
Lol…but no Jelly and Ice-Cream…:)
A Happy and Holy Christmas to you and the family.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Hello again, popped on here earlier to have a pop at the fellow who thinks £20 is not worth a lot, a few others have joined in.
Spent last couple of hours with family at a Secret Santa handover, messy, noisy, embarrassing ….everything your family should be. Back home now to have a home alone Xmas Eve, Mrs has been press ganged into swapping tomorrows shift for a night shift tonight at local hospital , aduklt kids are off out for Vigil Mass then party time. Just me and a bored cat with an awful TV schedule to see Xmas Day in.
I could feel down however I see on here ,and today in Glasgow, that there is no need to be devoid of hope or pride.
There is no way to compare the pain that relatives of the Glasgow casualties will be enduring now. No way to unburden the stress of the family I saw today helping a family member into an ambulance.
All I can hope is that they have good people around them, people like some of the stalwart fund raisers and supporters of each other we see on here. I hope they find their comfort from human contact and move forward.
” by with a little help from my friends “
The raven. Yes indeed. I actually thought the quality of the bands was terrific and they didn’t just play the same songs. Some unusual wee numbers in there.
Met up with some old friends too.
All in all a fab night. Make sure you get a ticket next year mate.
So the SFA knock back Ashley. Would they do this if they weren’t aware of another option for Sevco? Hmmmmmm……..
Is Today’s SFA decision just a step towards ‘real Rangers men’ taking over. Are they trying to sink Sevco and get rid of the spivs? Remember Findlay coming out with it’s not the Rangers I know etc.
Merry Christmas to all tims :)
HH
Happy Christmas to all …..well, nearly all !
roy croppie
18:04 on 24 December, 2014
Sounds like meager fare to me.
Hardly a real dinner without the lamb.