Generous response to appeals for funds and clothing to help the homeless
Dundalk people are again showing their big heart and are donating generously to a number of appeals to help the homeless this winter.
The annual sleep out in aid of the Simon Community organised by Maeve and Terry Curtis took place last Friday night.
‘We got a great reaction with people coming up to us so we didn’t even have to shake our buckets,’ says Maeve. ‘Everybody was very, very generous and we raised over €3,000 from the sleep out.’
‘We had a group of sixth year students from St Louis who joined us for a few hours as well as a family from Carrickmacrosss who came over,’ continues Maeve. ‘ Their twin boys play football with Carrick Rovers and the under 15 team made a collection and raised over €115 which they presented to us.’
The weather was kind to those who undertook the sleep out from 8pm on Friday night to 8am on Saturday morning.
‘We had to abandon it for health and safety reasons due to Storm Desmond last year so it was great to be able to complete it this year.’
The group are grateful to Tony’s Pizzeria who send up warm food during the night.
Between the sleep out and bucket collection in The Marshes the previous week, Maeve reckons they have raised over €5,000. ‘We also have sponsorship cards to come in so it’s looking really good and we are hoping to be able to make a substantial donation to the Simon Community.’
‘It’s the generosity of the people who make it such a success,’ she says.
There was also been a great response to the appeal by friends Sinead Roche and Rochelle Lazaro for overcoats and jumpers, as well as toiletries to help the homeless.
And Little Treasures shop in Bridge Street is still accepting donations of blankets, sleeping bags, rucksacks, hats, scarves, gloves and socks. These will be distributed to rough sleepers and donations are being accepted for the next two weeks.