Warrenpoint Port launched a ‘Covid Community Christmas Fund’ to try to spread some festive cheer in the local area after a difficult year for most people. The Port, its customers and port users contributed more than £9,000 into the fund. Charities and organisations were invited to apply to the fund and to let the Port know what they would do to spread festive cheer. The response was overwhelming.
David Holmes, CEO, Warrenpoint Port said, “We were blown away with the response to the fund and the fantastic ideas people had to spread some positivity this Christmas season. We were delighted to be able to support all the organisations that applied before the deadline. The money was allocated and distributed right away, and we believe this will make a real difference in the local community.
“The array of projects put forward makes something like this so worthwhile. This fund has been able to support activities from Christmas parties and selection boxes for the youngest in our communities who have had a difficult year in school and nursery to supporting our esteemed older citizens, some of whom will be receiving breakfast packs. We were able to help support festive lights, competition prizes as fundraisers and very importantly vouchers and donations to go out directly to people in our community who need a helping hand this Christmas. We are helping with a Drive In Cinema for a charity, supporting homeless people and those requiring cancer treatment as well as supporting survivors of head injuries. One project that particularly touched us was our ability to help with the redecorating of a family room at a local Women’s Aid shelter; where women and children who bravely may have to escape the family home this Christmas can take refuge.”
David Holmes added, “We will be publishing the full details of each of the projects and the donations over the coming days on our social media, website and in our first ezine called ‘On Board’ which will be issued next week. We would like to sincerely thank our customers, suppliers and Port users who contributed into this fund. We could not have done it without them.
“Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our team here at the Port for their continued work in our local community. Many of our local team have been here for a long time and they are constantly giving back to the community through involvement in lots of different activities and events. We hope that this latest initiative- our ‘Covid Community Christmas Fund ‘will help to spread local festive cheer and will help people in our community this Christmas. I wish you and your family a very safe and merry Christmas from all of us here at Warrenpoint Port.”
The full list of recipients of the Covid Community Christmas Fund is:
Southern Area Hospice Services; Head Injury Support Newry; Warrenpoint Town FC; Community Centre for Warrenpoint Group; Youth Services (Education Authority); Cumann Pheadir Naofa; The Cabbage Patchers; Busy Bees Preschool Burren; Rostrevor Men’s Shed; Women’s Aid Armagh Down Ltd; St Bronagh’s PS.; Burren Community Forum ; Newry Helping The Homeless/ The Larder (Foodbank); Down Right Brilliant; Advocacy VSV; 12 Townlands of Christmas; Killowen Primary School; Omeath Action Volunteer Group; Puzzles Playgroup; Newry Mourne Armagh MS Society; Seaview Nursery School; St. Dallan`s Primary School/ Friends Of St Dallan’s.