Lions Club Christmas Appeal this weekend
The annual Mullingar Lions Club Christmas Appeal takes place in the town on Friday, December 15, and Saturday December 16 at Hughes Eurospar, Green Road, and Buckley’s SuperValu, Austin Friars Street.
Frank Dillon, Lions Club, said members will be in those supermarkets with the collection boxes and “the good news is people can tap to donate by card”.
He said the Christmas Appeal began in the 1980s, known as the Lions Christmas Food Appeal, when clubs throughout the country collected food for the needy. Mullingar Lions Club have worked closely with the local St Vincent de Paul on the Christmas Appeal in recent years. “In the past we worked with Sr Finbarr Breslin (RIP) on the appeal. Working with St Vincent de Paul means nobody is excluded and everybody is looked after for Christmas,” said Frank.
He added there’s an ever increasing number of individuals and families in the community who require support. “The need, particularly this year, is acute because of the increased cost of living. We have been giving out food vouchers instead of hampers since Covid, which is working well as people have the opportunity to shop and buy what they want.”
He remarked that in addition to the food appeal the Lions Club provide dinners on Christmas Day, a project that has been running since 2014. “It’s made possible by the generosity of David Smyth Catering. We will cater for approximately 250 people on Christmas Day. Our deliveries are from 11am to 1pm and we give two dinners, one for St Stephen’s Day as well.”
The Family Support Project, operated by the Lions Club since 2011, continues to reach many families in need to make their lives less stressful. “We’re in regular contact with families through the frontline services – nurses, doctors, teachers, An Garda Síochána,” Frank said.
In 2023 the Lions Club have put a special emphasis on supporting families that have children with special needs and autism, by offering them respite and support. “This is going very well, and for the last six months we have been able to help and support individuals and families on a continuous basis.
“We were fortunate that our two fundraising events to support this project, the Summer Cycle Challenge and the Annual Mid-Summer Ball, were so successful and raised in excess of €25,000. That has allowed us to fund assessments for children, which can cost up to €2,000.”
On behalf of Mullingar Lions Club, Frank expressed gratitude to all who support their work. “We’re thankful for the generosity and kindness of so many people. Every euro goes towards the causes we have targeted. We are happy that we are able to reach out to the greater Mullingar and Westmeath area and facilitate the requests we receive. Recently we donated 100 sleeping bags to asylum seekers and refugees in Columb Barracks.”
Frank expressed a huge thank-you to all who give so generously and with such goodwill to Mullingar Lions Club, assuring them that their kindness makes a real difference to many in the community. He thanked Patricia Broderick, Nuala Moran, Caroline Mullen and Terri Greene, and those who supported them in organising a fundraising Christmas wreath making workshop on Sunday December 10 at Mullingar Harriers, as well as all who attended. “We thank the ladies for their initiative and for thinking of us.”
In conclusion, Frank acknowledged the work of his fellow members, led by club president David Coghlan, and he wished everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas, on behalf of Mullingar Lions Club.