KEY POINTS:
As New Zealand Breast Cancer Month comes to an end, November ushers in a month of new charity initiatives.
I don't envy fundraisers in this gloomy economic climate. When people are being told to tighten their belts and prepare for a rocky couple of years, it's difficult to get them to open their wallets even for the most worthy of causes.
Compassion fatigue is a real and recognised condition. If they don't get you at home via the telephone or letter box, they try to grab you on the street corner or at the supermarket.
You're not even safe from friends and colleagues as they hit you up to sponsor them on half marathons, marathons and cycle rides.
So pity the poor person charged with fundraising ideas.
I was at the launch of the Red Cross cookbook last week, and a very nice cookbook it is, too. Cookbooks are a time-honoured way for kindys and so on to raise dosh, and now the Red Cross has released its version.
It's beautifully presented and that's thanks to the support of Tim Connell and Gourmet Food Publishing. (You can get a copy _ great Christmas present _ online at redcross.org.nz.)
If you run a charity, you need to get a big-name sponsor alongside. Prostate cancer has the backing of Sanitarium and Marmite _ throughout November, every jar of Marmite sold will see 15 cents split between the Cancer Foundation and the Mental Health Foundation.
Another initiative is Dine-aid, a successful British concept that's been imported.
During November and December, participating restaurants will add two dollars to a table's bill. The premise being that if you can afford to dine out, you can afford to flick a couple of bucks to a worthy cause.
All the money collected will be donated to City Mission _ just in time for Christmas. You can find the list of restaurants at dineaid.org.nz.
I will happily donate to charities who show a bit of initiative, but if you're just going to shake a box at me, don't bother knocking.
