For the fourth year running, BNP Paribas Fortis Foundation is organising a ‘Red Cents’ charity initiative in support of Belgium’s Foodbanks. Everyone who would like to hand over their one-, two- and five-cent coins to this very good cause will have the opportunity to do so at BNP Paribas Fortis and Fintro branches from 1 December to 16 January.
Surveys reveal that a mere 5% of the little red coins in circulation in Belgium are ever actually spent. Moreover, a law in force since October authorises merchants to round cash payments up or down to the nearest five cents, which means that red cents are likely to disappear even deeper into the folds of our wallets. However, the Red Cents initiative provides an excellent way of making good use of these coins. During this fourth annual campaign, BNP Paribas Fortis Foundation will be collecting your red cents on behalf of the Foodbanks which work to combat hunger and food wastage in Belgium. For every €3 they receive, the Foodbanks are able to provide a hot meal for a person in need.
Last year the Red Cents drive collected close to 5,000,000 coins amounting to €116,500, the equivalent of around 38,800 hot meals. Every year, higher targets are set and the effort widened. Last year saw primary schools becoming involved for the first time. This year secondary schools and their students also have the chance to take part in the action. They will be able to deposit the coins they collect at their nearest BNP Paribas Fortis or Fintro branch.
The campaign will also be making use of social media. For every ‘check-in’ on Foursquare at a BNP Paribas Fortis branch, for every ‘re-tweet’ on Twitter and every ‘share’ on Facebook, BNP Paribas Fortis Foundation will donate the equivalent of one hot meal (i.e. €3) to the Foodbanks, up to a maximum of €15,000.
The results of the campaign will be communicated end of February.