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132, make that 264, Fewer Families with Malaria

Tonight, the People’s United Methodist Church and the Girl Scout Troop we host held a fundraiser for Nothing but Nets. The organization is seeking to purchase nets, distribute them to families in Africa, and “cover the continent” to prevent the spread of malaria, and ultimately to save lives.

It was great on so many levels. First, we raised awareness of how many people suffer from malaria, and how easily it can be prevented by using insecticide-treated bed nets. Many of the church dinner regulars had little understanding of the magnitude of the problem. The girl scouts welcomed each diner, distributed a single page handout explaining how use of bed nets significantly decreases the spread of malaria and helps save lives, and also had a net set up in the church lobby as “show and tell.” We also showed a short video explaining the program.

Second, we raised money! $1322.25 to be exact. At $10 a net, that buys 132 bed nets. Since the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation matches each donation, we will send 264 nets to families in Africa. It feels very tangible. That will cover a village.

Third, there was humor (perhaps bad humor, but humor nonetheless). The NBA is a sponsor of the Nothing But Nets Campaign, which led us to think about the basketball theme in planning the supper. We had the dinner on Leap Day, trying to connect leaping with nets. Get it, basketball, leaping, nets, Leap Day? Yeah, pretty sketchy. If that doesn’t elicit a chuckle, let’s try the local newspaper headline, “Chowder Supper to Prevent Malaria.” Yes, I know you may have thought that insecticide treated bed nets were good prevention, but actually if everyone just ate more chowder, there would be no malaria problem. Next time your friends get malaria, feed them some home-made chowder and they will be cured in no time flat. I’ll get you the recipe.

Finally, the shared goal built us up as a community. We were challenged to donate 15 nets as a church. We thought even as a little church (30 people on Sunday is good for us), we could do better. Doing what we do best – cooking and hosting – we raised almost 10x our goal. And, throughout all the preparations, I kept hearing people rally around the cause. “A few hours of washing dishes is a pretty easy way for me to save a kid’s life” and “One net can cover six people? So I’m helping a whole family!” Not only did regular church attenders help work at the dinner, but two men from our Emotions Anonymous group, several church member’s families, as well as half a dozen Girl Scouts also came to help, and got to know one another. We even had two local Massachusetts Mosquito Control workers come and eat with us, and also give a generous donation. Mosquito haters unite across continental boundaries, it seems.

I’ll take two fish chowders for carry out and two bed nets for Africa, please. That will be $20. Seems like a pretty good deal all around.

Comments

Comment from Ohio Mom
Time: March 14, 2008, 5:08 pm

Su,
What a neat idea…sounds like something our school and/or 8th graders could get involved in. Could you send me any information about how to start our own efforts? Thanks!

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