Mallow gardai to spread festive cheer with ‘Operation Hamper’
GARDAI from Mallow are once again doing their bit to help bring some seasonal cheer to vulnerable local families over the forthcoming festive season.
The fourth annual ‘Operation Hamper’ initiative will see gardai send out letters to local businesses over the coming days requesting donations towards the cost of making up Christmas hampers for deserving families and individuals from the greater Mallow area.
Garda Olga Smyth, who is co-ordinating the initiative with her colleague Sgt John O’Leary, said they have been touched by the way the local community had responded to the appeal in previous years.
“When we started Operation Hamper in 2012 we requested donations of €20 for businesses and will be the same this year. However, the response with each successive year has been amazing with some businesses donating up to €250 and others donating foodstuffs and other goods for the hampers,” said Olga.
“It has been wonderful to watch this initiative get bigger and better each year. For example in 2014 we were able to distribute 108 hampers to families and individuals that would not normally seek help and could otherwise very easily slip under the radar,” she added.
Olga said that she and her colleagues believed Operation Hamper was a great way for local businesses to thank the community in Mallow for their support during the year.
“In fairness, the business community has come up trumps every year. Not only that, the initiative has also caught the collective imagination of the wider community with many individuals leaving donations of money of goods,” she said.
“The success of Operation Hamper has proven that the community spirit is alive, well and thriving in Mallow. These hampers may be the only present some of the recipients will get this year. With that in mind we would ask that the local community once again dig deep to help bring some Christmas cheer into the lives of those who need our help the most,” said Olga.
Cheques and postal orders made out to Sgt John O’Leary, cash and other items for the hampers can be left at the front office of Mallow Garda Station for collection.
“Everyone involved would like to thank people for their kind generosity in the past and urge them to get behind the campaign once again in 2015,” said Olga.
“Even the smallest of donations are welcome if it will help bring some light into the lives of those within our community who need our help the most.”