Support those most in need this Christmas

Mid Ulster District Council is supporting a food bank appeal this December to help those less fortunate in the area in the run-up to Christmas.
Mid Ulster District Council is supporting a food bank appeal this December to help those less fortunate in the area in the run-up to Christmas.Mid Ulster District Council is supporting a food bank appeal this December to help those less fortunate in the area in the run-up to Christmas.
Mid Ulster District Council is supporting a food bank appeal this December to help those less fortunate in the area in the run-up to Christmas.

The Council is working in partnership with a number of local charities and organisations – including SVP, Antioch Food Bank, The Link Maghera and the Magherafelt Food Bank (Trussell Trust) – to try and make Christmas a special time for everyone in the district.

Two food bank appeal events will take place next week: Thursday 8th December at the Burnavon, Cookstown from 10am – 1pm and Friday 9th December at the Bridewell, Magherafelt from 10am – 1pm.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As Christmas is the time for giving, the Council is urging residents to get behind the appeal and donate what they can to help families and individuals in the district who are struggling to put food on the table during this financially difficult time of year.

Recent statistics showed that 1 in 5 people are now living below the poverty line in the UK. You can help make a difference to the lives of children, families, older people and some of the most vulnerable people in the community by simply donating an item from your weekly shop.

Items especially welcome for donation include : Any toiletries - soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes, toilet roll, cereal, coffee / tea, tinned rice, tinned custard, tinned meat, tinned fruit, tinned veg, tinned fish, soups, pasta sauces, pasta / rice, long life juice, sponge pudding, jam, biscuits / snack bars, toys, nappies, baby food (packaged), and selection boxes.

Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Trevor Wilson is supporting the appeal. He said, “While Christmas is a time of great cheer and is portrayed as ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, unfortunately this is not the case for too many people living within our own district! There will be countless people who instead of looking forward to the present giving and fine dining will actually be dreading it because they simply can’t afford it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This is why I am fully supporting the Council’s two food bank appeal events and I would urge everyone who can afford to donate an item or items to please do so. By giving a little, we could actually make someone else’s Christmas! This to me is the true spirit and magic of Christmas and I hope the collections speak for themselves at the end of the two days.”

The Vineyard Church in Dungannon also operates a food bank drop-in morning every Thursday from 10.30am – 1pm.

Also 0n the 9th December Cookstown Primary School are hosting the annual Mid Ulster in Harmony school Christmas celebrations and all donations made by pupils, parents and teachers will go to the food bank appeal.

For more information on the appeal, the charities involved and how you can access the food collected, go to www.midulstercouncil.org/foodbank

Related topics: