Debra Smithdeal, a member of St. Martin’s Parish and the MDG coordinator for the Diocese of North Carolina, was inspired to prevent the spread of malaria in Botswana, where the diocese has a companion relationship. She decided to challenge all of her fellow parishioners to each give enough money to send long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to Africa. The four-week campaign initially aimed to raise $3000.

As part of the effort, dedicated teams were formed: one for marketing, one for speaking and education, one for staffing tables and collecting donations. During the campaign, Debra spoke to the congregation on Sunday mornings, educating everyone about malaria; about how many die each day from this deadly disease; about the nets and prevention; and about how Episcopal Relief and Development provides not only the nets but also the training to use and to maintain them - all for the price of a new paperback book!

St. Martin’s used a variety of creative strategies to illuminate the human toll of malaria. One member, Terry, made two banners covered with 2,880 handprints, representing the children who die daily from malaria. One Sunday, Debra distributed black paper circles with a designated time on the back of each and asked recipients to stick the circles on their backs at those specified times. During the announcement time of the service, Debra asked all of those folks to stand and informed congregants that 90 people had died since the service began.

The catalyst was that all knew that their contributions would directly help someone. Some gave enough for one net; others gave enough for dozens of nets. Halfway through the campaign, a very generous parishioner offered to match what was raised, dollar for dollar! That encouraged parish members even more. At the end of the campaign, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte sent Episcopal Relief and Development a check for $17,460 - enough for more than 1,200 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets!