Major milestone for Archbishop’s website as it helps 10,000 in need
Charity’s 10,000 acts of kindness
THE ONLINE giving charity set up by the Archbishop of York has helped its 10,000th person in need.
Acts 435 is an online website, managed through a network of churches and local charities, designed to get 100 per cent of donations quickly to the needy.
Donors choose who to give their money to and then church advocates post ‘thank you’ messages from the individual applicant who has been helped.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said: “What Acts 435 is achieving is wonderful – imagine how much more could be done if we had 1,000 churches involved, not just 250.
“It works and it is easy to use. Donors are responding. Churches – let’s seize the moment and use Acts 435 to contribute to the common good.”
One volunteer advocate, who works with Safe Families for Children, has recently used Acts 435 to help different families by providing money for a cot mattress, a carpet, and funds to travel to hospital.
The advocate said: “This is the first time we have made requests using Acts 435 and we are absolutely delighted at how simple it is to use and how effective it has been. Each donation has made a huge difference to the families and has supported our work with them.”
Jenny Herrera, Acts 435 Executive Director, said: “It took five years to grant our 5,000th gift. The fact that we have reached 10,000 only two years later shows the way donors are responding to this cost-effective way of meeting real, specific needs of people living in poverty in the UK.
It also shows how churches and charities have linked in with Acts 435 to bring support and blessing to people in their local communities.”
The website Acts 435 was inspired by the works of the early church, as described in the Bible in Acts 4:35.
It describes the early Christian followers sharing their possessions, and passing money to the apostles to give to anyone who had need.
THE ARCHBISHOP of York is understandably proud of his online giving charity, Acts 435, in which Christians, and others, donate money which is then passed to the most vulnerable parishioners and families to help acquire specific items. Set up by Dr John Sentamu seven years ago, it has just supported its 10,000th person – further proof that the Archbishop is one of those all too rare figures in public life whose actions invariably speak louder than his words of wisdom.
Yet, typically, he’s not satisfied. Though 250 churches have supported this initiative, he now wants 1,000 to embrace an initiative – Christianity in action – so Acts 435 can make a bigger difference to the lives of the poor and showcase the Church of England’s positive role in local communities across the region. Without leaders like the indomitable Dr Sentamu recognising the need for such schemes and acting accordingly, both Yorkshire – and the Church – would be much poorer places.