A CHURCH’S parent and toddler group are delighted their fundraising efforts last year have helped provide a much needed toilet for a community in Pakistan.
St Mary’s Under Fives (Smuffies) in Barnard Castle, were delighted their efforts to help fund the construction of a toilet in the subcontinent will help all members of the small community of Tando Allahya.
Although the fundraising events, which included a unique cake sale, were held in November last year, certificates for the toilet twinning have now arrived and been erected at the Parish Hall on Newgate.
The group’s Iris Hillery said: “Through the efforts of Smuffies and other organisations that use the parish hall a set of four toilets has been twinned in Pakistan.
“Certificates for all four that have been funded have been displayed in the ladies, gents, accessible and guild room facilities at the hall.”
Kim Harding, who helps run Smuffies, said: “We raised the money on World Toilet Day. Normally we would support Children in Need, but this year because the town is doing so much with toilet twinning we decided to do our bit.”
She added: “We had a tombola stall and raffle as well as a pull a toilet roll out of the bin game.”
However, it was the cake stall that did exceptionally well with every single chocolate and caramel poo-shaped emoji cake selling out.
Mrs Harding added: “They went down very well with people.
“We also had a lot of information on display relating to toilet twinning and the need for safe, secure and hygienic places for all, but especially young girls and women.”
