Rotary Christmas Tree appeal raises thousands for charity

THE annual Christmas Tree appeal outside St Peter’s, organised by the Rotary Club, was again a great success with thousands raised for charity.

For the week before Christmas, the public were invited to tie a ribbon around the tree to remember loved ones.

‘ This year’s support was very good and above average,’ Paddy Prendergast from the group stated. ‘ This was our 11th year and we have distributed up to €130,000 to charities in that time.’

‘ This year’ our three charities, Malta Services, Special Olympics and The Boomerang Cafe who had The Soroptimist Club supporting them were allocated €3,500 each and the balance went to Rotary’s Meals on Wheels service,’ he added.

He again thanked all those who stopped and became part of the tree appeal, despite the sometimes wet and windy weather.

The club and the organisations gathered in the Westcourt Hotel last week to hand out the cheques.

Paddy Prendergast and Gail McEvoy of the local Rotary Club were joined by Carmel Schmidt of the Drogheda Soroptimists to present cheques to John Carolan (Special Olympics), Nicola Kearns (Malta Services) and Cathriona Culligan (Boomerang Cafe).