STORM BARRA BATTERS THE COUNTRY:

V. DePAUL COLLECTION:

Sunday 12th Dec: The local branch of St. V.dePaul will be holding their annual collection before 10.30 mass, in Granagh. All funds collected will be used in the local community. Please give a little, it helps a lot.

SURVEY:

Return by 12th Dec. The Parochial House surveys have been delivered, if you did not get one, please let us know. As the letter explains, it is essential to have this information, for the next step of the project. All the views and ideas in your household are important, in order to make sure all ages are catered for. iA lot of work has gone into this project already so if you can fill in the survey it would be appreciated.

BLANKET APPEAL:

10th - 12th of December. The annual Christmas Blanket Appeal Run, Walk, Row or Cycle event takes place in aid of local Homeless Charities. This year, they are giving participants a choice to run, walk, row or cycle (3km or 5km), at their own locations, between the 10th - 12th of December.

All proceeds will go to very worthwhile local charities St. Vincent de Paul & Thomond House, who do amazing work providing support services for people at risk and homeless in Limerick.

LISKENNETT WOOD:

Well done to the sub-committee of Granagh Dev. Assoc for their continuing work on the Liskennett trails. Their stamina, interest and persistence is being rewarded (project began in 2016). Three seats have been added, one on each road and the sign posts are up. Each improvement takes months & months to complete as one is dealing with different agencies and the paperwork trail is never ending. Next job on the list will be getting two of the paths stoned, that will take us into 2022.!

CHARITIES:

Sat Dec 18th: Mary O'Regan will be selling Trocaire gifts on Saturday 18th Dec at O'Grady's, 9am - 1pm & O'Gormans', 2pm - 5pm, for anyone who is interested.

There are so many wonderful charities helping so many disadvantaged people, here's a selection, you might like to support one this year.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization, focused on hunger and food security in over 80 countries and the largest provider of school meals. The Emergency situations they are involved in at present are - Afghanistan, Haiti, Nigeria, Madagascar, Sth Sudan, Syria & Yemen. To donate go to www.wfp.org.

Concern helped 28.6 million of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people in 2019, while responding to 82 emergencies in twenty four countries. Go to www.concern.net

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. Go to www.unicef.org

Sightsavers - Every day, children around the world are going blind from eye conditions and diseases that are easily preventable.

Operations to treat cataracts and trachoma can take less than an hour. www.sightsavers.org

Self Help Africa works in nine core African countries, tackling poverty and improving the lives of local communities. The organisation works both with its own African staff, and through local partners to undertake a range of development programmes amongst rural communities. They sell gifts such as cooking stoves, piglets, goats, cows, beehives, bicycles etc. www.selfhelpafrica.org

Trócaire has worked in Israel and the OPT ( Occupied Palestinian Territories ) since 2002. Trócaire seeks to build a lasting and just peace in the region based on respect for human rights, international law and the dignity of all. They work together with both Israeli and Palestinian partner organisations to build peace, raise awareness, and challenge human rights abuses. www.trocaire.org

Here at home, 'Live95 Helping Limerick Children' are raising funds for CARI this year. You can make a donation by texting HELPING to 50300 to donate €4 or go to the Gofundme page.

Barnardos works in the heart of local communities with over 17,000 children and families every year. Their mission is to give vulnerable children living in disadvantaged communities a better chance. www.barnardos.ie or send a text to Christmas FM who are raising funds for them this year.

There are lots more local groups - MS Society, DSyndrome Irl, Share a Dream, Enable Irl, Alzheimer Soc etc, any one of them would be delighted to receive a donation.