Remembering the St Joseph’s Penny appeal
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Did you know our St Joseph’s Penny appeal is more than 100 years old?
It was created to encourage local children to donate one penny to others who were in need of a helping hand.
And, more than a century later, we’re incredibly proud to continue to hold that ethos at the heart of today’s appeal.
Thanks to the kindness of children and adults across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, we’re able to keep supporting people experiencing incredibly difficult times.
By adding a coin or two to the iconic St Joseph’s Penny boxes, the small change you give certainly has big impact.
This year, we’ve been asking people locally to share their memories of the appeal over the years and we’re grateful to everyone who has been in touch.
Here are just a few of those memories, shared:
“In 1951 as the eldest grandchild on both sides of the family with several aunts and uncles I had a ready market for my St Joseph’s Penny Cards. Everybody in the class was given a shilling (12 pennies) card to fill in and return. I was given a half crown card ( 2/6 – 2 shillings and sixpence – 30 pennies). I filled in three! A total of 7 shillings and 6 pence (7/6 – 90 pennies). That was the most collected by anybody in my class. My reward was a trip to the cathedral to meet Bishop Marshall. My lasting memory is the journey on two buses, the second one being the 96 green Salford bus.”
“I strongly recall being given these and encouraged to donate to the St Joseph’s Penny appeal at my primary school in Middleton. It was always linked to Lent and I remember it was handed out with excitement because you got to make up the box yourself and a lot of competition to bring it back in first. There was a lot of competition at home too when getting the family to donate!”
“I remember the cards that you pricked every time you got a penny in infant school and the cardboard money boxes.”
“I went to St Mary’s RC Infant and Juniors, Failsworth in the 80s and making up the St Joseph’s Penny boxes there, then filling them with pennies at home during Lent, is such a happy memory.”
“Putting together the boxes was such a lot of fun as a child and I really remember it vividly. I’m pleased it is still running nowadays too.”
If you have any memories of the appeal you’d like to share too, please get in touch by emailing comms@caritassalford.org.uk or visiting www.caritassalford.org.uk/SJP
There’s still time to get involved in the St Joseph’s Penny appeal for this year. To print and make a collection box, or order one to be sent to you in the post, please visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/SJP
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