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Pennies for Bhopal
How coffee can fundraising can support the campaign
and Sambhavna Clinic in Bhopal
What is Coffee Can Fundraising?
Have you ever seen a can or jar asking for donations? Of course
you have – they’re common in coffee shops, restaurants,
and other local businesses. Often they ask for tips, but sometimes
they’re raising money for worthy causes like tsunami relief,
cancer research, or muscular dystrophy. And though it may not seem
so from looking at the nickels and pennies inside, donation cans
like these can raise a lot of money.
The containers themselves can be made out of almost anything –
cans, jars, plastic containers, or anything else that might be handy.
Coffee cans are only one convenient example, but no matter what
you use, the donations you collect will go a long way and make a
real difference for the people of Bhopal.
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How
it Makes a Difference
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Winning an
additional $330 million in compensation |
Much of what we do requires significant funding, and depending
on whom you decide to support with your efforts – the International
Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, the Sambhavna
Clinic, or possibly both – you’ll be making a direct
contribution to ongoing, critical work on behalf of the people of
Bhopal.
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
..........• Won an additional
$330 million in compensation
for Bhopal victims.
..........• Successfully pressured
the Indian Council for Medical Research to restart
the comprehensive medical studies discontinued in 1994.
..........• Found
Warren Anderson, the former Chairman of Union Carbide and international
fugitive from justice, after more than a decade in hiding, leading
to a formal request for his extradition.
..........• More examples can
be found on our “Victories”
page, and you can read more about the campaign itself at www.bhopal.net
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The new Sambhavna
Clinic building & medicinal garden |
Sambhavna Clinic
..........• Has provided free
medical care to over 16,000 gas-affected people, and has served
a similar number through community health initiatives in the neighborhoods
bordering the abandoned factory.
..........• Offers a unique combination
of treatments including allopathy, ayurveda (an indigenous system
of medicine based on herbs) and Yoga.
..........• Has conducted path-breaking
medical research, including a study published in the Journal
of the American Medical Association indicating that the effects
of the gas are multi-generational.
..........• For more information
about Sambhavna, see www.bhopal.org
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A Little is A Lot
Several AID chapters have already taken up coffee can fundraising
to support their efforts, and while collections obviously depend
on how many cans you have, these chapters report collecting between
$200-$600 every six months.
Funding like this can go a long way in Bhopal. For example $200
pays for one complete set of clinical examination tools for Sambhavna
clinic, and $300 pays the monthly salary of our SfB India Coordinator.
How much you raise will very over time, but no matter what you
collect, these donations will make a big difference in Bhopal.
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Making the Cans
Creating the containers can be quick, easy, and a lot of fun.
First you’ll need something to start with. Coffee cans are
good, but if you have jars or plastic containers handy, they’ll
work just as well.
Getting Cans
Getting empty coffee cans may sound difficult, but it’s often
easy. Try putting the word out among your friends and neighbors,
and you’ll probably collect at least a few, and more over
time. If you’re looking for larger numbers, you can make a
request through the freecycle
network in your area, or ask local restaurants to save their
cans for you.
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Creating donation
cans is often easy |
Making the Containers
Turning whatever you have into donation containers is often just
as easy. Make sure that you wash them thoroughly and remove any
wrapping they may have. Then cut a hole in the top so that people
can drop in their donations (coffee cans are easy because they usually
come with a plastic top). Then wrap the cans in something that explains
a little about Bhopal and why people should give. You can print
off our template design
or create your own if you like.
Flyers?
If you like, you can leave a small pile of flyers along with the
donation can, in case people would like to find out more. Feel free
to print off copies of our generic
quartersheets, the ICJB trifold
flyer, or the Sambhavna Clinic trifold flyer (parts one
and two).
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Using the Cans
Where to Put Them
Local businesses are often willing to put collection cans on their
counter, so long as they don’t have to do anything and they’re
not held accountable if anything gets stolen. Asking is simple:
You: Hi! Can
I speak with the manager/owner, please?
(pause)
Manager: Yes, how can I help you?
You: Hi, my name is Scarvy Fintintelfoot,
and I’m a volunteer with Students for Bhopal. We’re
collecting money to support the victims of the world’s
worst-ever industrial disaster, a chemical gas leak 20 years
ago in Bhopal, India. We were wondering if we could put
this collection can on your front counter?
Manager: Sure, as long as we don’t
have to do anything and as long as we’re not held
responsible if it gets stolen.
You: Okay! Thanks so much for your help!
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Not everyone will agree and some may ask you for more information
about Bhopal. But most local businesses will be happy to host your
donation can on their front counter. Try asking Indian groceries,
local restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores and other local businesses.
Collecting the Money
How frequently you collect the money is up to you. It may be easier
to put a contact phone number on the can and ask the proprietor
to call you when the can is full, so you can come and collect it.
Or you can make it easy for them by making regularly-scheduled visits
to collect whatever’s accumulated. Whatever works best.
Most of the donations you get will probably be change. Unless you
have a lot, you should be able to count and wrap this yourself.
Simply ask your local bank for change wrappers to roll the coins
in.
Sending it in
Whenever you collect your donations, you can send them in by making
your check out to our fiscal sponsor, the “Pesticide Action
Network North America” and writing “ICJB” (if
your donations are for the campaign) or “Sambhavna”
(for the clinic) in the “memo” section of the check
– this’ll make sure your donations are deposited in
the right account. Then mail your checks to:
Ryan Bodanyi
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
426 Hamilton Place
Ann Arbor, Mi 48104
Finally…
That’s it! Setting up donation cans is a quick and easy way
that anyone can help support the campaign.
Thanks so much for your support!
If you have any questions, please feel free to call or send an
email – you can reach Ryan at (401) 829-6192 or rbodanyi@studentsforbhopal.org.
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IN
BHOPAL