February 2010
£7,000 in ten days for Haiti thanks to a Cotswold pub
It took villagers just ten days to raise a whopping £7,000 for the Haiti's Disaster Emergency fund, thanks to their generosity and the landlords at The Black Horse village pub, in Naunton near Stow on the Wold.
Landlady Jo Archer explains: "We wanted to do something for Haiti and discussed it with villagers and our customers. Having seen the dreadful news reports of Haiti following the earthquake, we all wanted to do our bit to help."
So the pub put up a tent and threw a big party. Tickets cost £15 and nearly 100 people attended. An auction during the evening raised over £3,000 and more money came from a raffle. Since then the money has continued to flow in.
"It was fantastic - and wonderful to see everyone really getting involved," added Jo.
The largest amount paid for an auction prize was for Jo's partner and trained chef Peter Bate, who is in charge of the kitchen at The Black Horse.
"He offered to visit a house and cook a meal for ten," said Jo. "It raised the biggest amount of the night."
James Arkell, of Donnington Brewery which owns The Black Horse, said: "Jo, Pete and all the villagers threw themselves into the fundraising with such energy, managing to raise a colossal sum in a very short time. It's incredible what can be done when everyone believes in a cause and wants to work together.
