Social Services prepare for 50th year
This year marks the 50 th Anniversary of Sligo Social Services. As Christmas approaches, everyone is busily preparing to help as many people as possible by providing vital services in the community.
The Christmas season can be filled with joy for many of us, with the excitement of shopping, trimming the tree and over indulging in our favourite foods.
However, for some Christmas can be a very difficult time of year, in fact the lead up to Christmas can be filled with worry and apprehension.
Sligo Social Services want those families and individuals in the community who are experiencing hardship this Christmas to know that they are not alone.
Sligo Social Services has for 50 Christmases worked hard, with the help of the community, to ensure that as many people as possible have a warm and safe bed to sleep in, something warm and nourishing to eat, and that each child has a toy to play with on Christmas morning.
Christmas brings extraordinary gifts of kindness. Donations from the public have begun arriving into headquarters on Charles Street; toys, clothes, vouchers, food, all sorts of presents to ensure that everyone has a joyous, happy Christmas.
At Sligo Social Services there is a real buzz for staff and service users alike. The children in the Childcare Service have trimmed the tree, made decorations and are excitedly keeping an eye on the elf on the shelf as they await the arrival of the man in the big red suit.
The Sligo Social Services Homeless Service are ensuring that those staying in their homeless hostels will receive extra care and goodies to make this Christmas a little easier.
The Meals on Wheels team work 365 days per year, including Christmas day. They will cook and deliver delicious festive food, and cry out a hearty Merry Christmas to those with whom they visit.
The Befriending Service will continue to reach out to older people in the community who may feel lonely or isolated at this time of year.
The Thrift Shop on Harmony Hill is fully stocked with preowned Christmas outfits to have you looking dapper over the holidays without spending a fortune.
All proceeds from the Thrift shop go to help fund all of these essential services.
Sligo Social Services is grateful to this wonderful community who for 50 years have given what they can afford to help those who struggle at Christmas. This embodies all that is good about Christmas.
None of these services would be possible without the generosity of the many good people of Sligo.
To those of you who so generously give of your time and donations, not only at Christmas but throughout the year,
Sligo Social Services say thank you, your generosity lightens the load of so many parents and families.
And to those of you who are in a position to give - donations of money or goods or your time – please come forward.
The more that is received, the more they can re-distribute, and the greater the number of people in Sligo who will have an easier, lighter, happier Christmas.
Sligo Social Services can be contacted on 071 9145682 or by dropping into our offices on Charles Street.