The group 100 Airdrie Men Who Give A Damn will assist three local charities with financial donations in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Jack Lumley, one of the group's six organizers, said members managed to raise $10,500, which it will split equally between Airdrie Meals on Wheels, Airdrie Food Bank and Community Links.
“It’s not a lot of money – it’s only $3,500 each,” Lumley said. “But, in these times, everything helps.”
According to Lumley, 100 Airdrie Men Who Give A Damn is a group that meets quarterly to benefit local organizations. The group boasts more than 300 members on Facebook, he said, and approximately 100 participate in the donation each quarter.
Typically, members would gather for a time of socializing that includes a guest speaker. During the quarterly meetings, a number of local charities would have an opportunity to speak to the group, and at the end, members would vote on which charity receives the donation.
“As a group, our goal is to get 100 guys every quarter to pitch in $100 each, and to give $10,000,” Lumley said, adding a donation of that size can significantly relieve fundraising pressures for smaller charities.
The group’s latest meeting was originally scheduled for early April, Lumley said, but was cancelled because of COVID-19.
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“About six or seven weeks ago, we got together as the organizing committee,” Lumley said. “We sat down and said, ‘Do we just abandon ship for this quarter or do we carry on?’”
Ultimately, the group decided it would be worthwhile to continue supporting local charities in whatever way possible. Instead of meeting in person, Lumley and fellow organizer Keith Wilkinson hosted a virtual event on Facebook April 28.
Because they could not make a presentation in person, the three organizations prepared videos in advance, which were watched by the group’s members on their own time.
“They were amazing videos,” Lumley said. “They were really well done and really helped the members decide what they wanted to do. Quite frankly, when you have a message presented that well, it’s very difficult to choose one or the other, and I think that’s why we chose to split the money.”
Lumley estimated at least 80 members took part in the virtual meeting.
The pandemic has been challenging for charities, who have had to cancel fundraising events and have seen an increased demand for their services. Lumley said that makes the donation especially timely.
“You look at the different organizations – they’ve had to change everything about the way they operate,” he said. “On top of that, there’s no money coming in. We really wanted to help them as they make those changes in the way they deliver their services.”
While acknowledging there were aspects of the virtual meeting that could be tweaked, overall, Lumley was happy with the result. He noted that if people remain confined to their homes during the summer, when the group’s next meeting is scheduled, it’s likely the group will once again host a virtual meeting
Ben Sherick, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @BenSherick
