People across the Circuit have been thanked for their contributions to another successful Christian Aid Week.
The week (May 10 to 16), went ahead despite the challenges posed by Covid restrictions.
While envelopes were delivered as usual by dedicated volunteers, they weren't collected, with householders encouraged to return them to collection points, or donate online.
Hexham Christian Aid Group's John McArdle said: "Thanks to all of you who volunteered to deliver envelopes this year.
"We have not tried delivery only envelopes before and the results were encouraging."
John revealed that 16 volunteers delivered to around 2,400 homes (46% of total homes in Hexham), churches took 280 envelopes for their congregations, and 126 envelopes were returned raising just over £2,500 (including Gift Aid) to date, with an average donation per envelope of £20.
John added: "It is likely that some people who received envelopes donated online at caweek.org, so the day of the envelope delivery is not yet over!
"If this exercise was replicated in half the towns in England it would raise about £6m! So, it is a very worthwhile exercise – let's hope for more volunteers next year.
"I am happy to receive any feedback you may have. Many thanks once again. If you still wish to donate you can do so via https://www.christianaid.org.uk/ or return an envelope to the Hexham Trinity office or the Abbey shop."
Christian Aid Week was an eventful one for John, and friend Tony Brookes, who walked from Hexham to Corbridge and back – carrying heavy containers of water.
They wanted to highlight the story of 67-year-old Rose Katanu, who walks five miles every two days in eastern Kenya to fetch 80 litres of water for her six grandchildren in her care.
When she was a girl, the rivers flowed with water and the crops bore fruit, but extreme weather caused by the climate crisis is making it harder and harder to survive the frequent droughts. The coronavirus pandemic has only increased the urgent need for families to access a reliable source of water.
John and Tony, both local supporters of Christian Aid, thought they should really see what it was like to fetch water over a long distance – so they decided to walk from their homes in Hexham to the water's edge at Corbridge to fill up their containers.
