Huge response to VdP appeal

CHRISTMAS for hundreds of families in the Dundalk area will be that little bit happier thanks to the work of a number of voluntary organisations and the quite outstanding generosity of townspeople.

Organisations like the St. Vincent de Paul, and Rotary Club have been at the heart of distributing hundreds of food parcels and vouchers to families and individuals throughout the area, stretching from the Cooley peninsula to south of the town.

The eleven Conferences working in the Dundalk area operated out of a food depot in the former Harp Brewery, now owned and kindly made available by Great Northern Brewery.

Their food appeal was launched as usual, with the annual Carol Service in Dromiskin National School where hundreds of parcels of food were donated by pupils during the service.

Food donations from schools make up a large portion of the food distributed by the SVP, and this year there was a magnificent contribution from St. Vincent’s Secondary school, beautifully arranged in the school hall, from the De La Salle, who annually are great supporters of the appeal, while St. Mary’s College, national schools in Darver, Dulargy, Scoil Eion Baiste, and the Pugwash pre-school in Knockbridge all made welcome donations.

Many firms throughout the town also encouraged their staff to participate in the SVP’s ‘Giving Tree’ appeal, and leading the way in this regard were PayPal, whose magnificent array of food and toys was a joy to behold.

The SVP also received a much larger array of toys than ever before, with PayPal, Graebal Client Services Ltd., Keystone Insurance, making large donations of toys, while an individual appeal by a Bellurgan mother got a magnificent response.

All of the toys were distributed to families.

The Rotary Club, who also rely on the generosity of people with their Earl Street Christmas Remembrance tree appeal, and their own resources, distributed in excess of 50 parcels in the days before Christmas, all with the help of many young people.