Maximising support for good causes
American author H. Jackson Brown Jr. famously said, “the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more”. It stands to reason then that supporting good causes is a huge part of what the Maxim Park community is all about. It’s important to us and our members that we’re a force for good, and by hosting events in the name of many different causes throughout the year, that sense of community is cemented.
One example is Maggie’s Lanarkshire, a vital support centre for anyone experiencing any type of cancer and their loved ones, which received £494 from our latest charity bingo event. Similarly, our charity quiz for Glasgow Children's Festival raised £385.
But fundraising events are just a small part of what brings us together in this way. We also welcome charity representatives to the park to share information and inspiration with all those based here.
It was a huge pleasure to meet the extraordinary team from St Andrews Hospice in Airdrie last week, who explained the many ways in which we can support them to provide vital care to families, such as forgoing the high street for the hospice shop, which is open six days a week for bags, accessories and homeware. We can also rent out their meeting rooms, support their café when we fancy an insanely good scone, visit their upcoming Christmas market, or simply make a donation.
We make sure to promote any fundraising events in aid of this incredible space, such as its popular St Andrew’s in the City ladies day, which involved a drinks reception and entertainment from singing sensations Edward Reid and Nathan Evans.
Because this amazing facility is fully funded by such support, it is crucial to maintain its 24 private rooms, which give single patients and sometimes their four-legged companions dignity and a sense of wellbeing as they deal with the effects of terminal illness.
Giving money is of course one way to help, but our recent food and clothing donations have been equally welcomed by organisations such as Refuweegee, which helps those arriving in Scotland that have been forced to flee their homes around the world, and Diamonds in the Community, which has expanded from its original aim to provide sports and leisure opportunities to the residents of Airdrie, Coatbridge and the surrounding areas. It now offers prescription collections, dog walking, befriending and grocery shopping to those isolated by geography or circumstance.
We also support social enterprises such as Launch Foods, which has been feeding Glasgow’s kids for six years, by using their goods to cater for our larger events on site.
And we don’t only support humans. Animal lovers came out in force recently to raise enough funds to buy 130kg of food for residents of the Tribe Animal Sanctuary Scotland, which is based near Lanark.
Our Director of Park Services Caroline Baillie said: “We are so fortunate in this area to have so many awe-inspiring organisations on our doorstep, raising awareness of different causes and circumstances and offering us lots of different opportunities to get involved.
“These events and initiatives are a huge part of the fabric of everyday life at Maxim Park and we look forward to many more in the coming year!”
Stay up to date with our charity events and news on the Maxim app, our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok pages, and on our website at maximpark.com/community/#events.
