Jammy idea to raise RNLI funds
RNLI fundraisers in Oban are pot-y about a new way of collecting people’s loose change.
Volunteer fundraisers are hoping people will fill mini jam pots with saved 5p pieces to help support the charity’s work in the town.
Fundraisers Phil Hamerton and Alison Rennie, with help from others, have collected more than 400 pots so far, but have put out an SOS for more so they can be relabelled and put to good use.
The Little Potting Shed, Costa, Atlantis Leisure Centre and CGL office supplies in Oban have all agreed to be collection and drop-off points for the jars. Money will be emptied into a collection bucket so the jars can be taken away and filled again.
Full jars can also be taken along to the RNLI station to be emptied said Mr Hamerton, who added it is also a good way to recycle.
The idea for the 5p pots first came from Betty Frith who was honorary treasurer for more than 20 years at the Hertford branch of the RNLI before she died.
Other stations have since taken up her fundraising idea and Oban is one of the first in Scotland.
The mini pots, fondly called Betty’s Pots, have helped Durham RNLI branch raise more than £85,000 in just 40 months.
Mr Hamerton said: ‘The pots go live on April 1. It’s going to be a long-running fundraiser and we’re really hoping people will get behind it as much as they can to support the RNLI’s work in Oban.’
Last month the town’s RNLI crew took delivery of their much-anticipated new kit. The kit replaces the gear that had been well used at the station over the years and the new range, worth more than £1,000 per set, includes a full layer system and base layers.
The crew put out a Facebook post thanking ‘all of you who continue to donate to the RNLI, making all of this possible’.