Lara Senners, Mullingar Community College, Marc Aranda, Mullingar Community College, Dominik Cichocky, Mullingar Community College, Conor Leech, Coláiste Mhuire, Peter Finch, Coláiste Mhuire, Kaja Dziadosz, Loreto College, Mullingar, Rebecca Maxwell, Loreto College, Sofia Maten, Mullingar Community College, with Brian Fagan of Concern, and Robert Troy, TD, preparing for the street collections this Friday.

Local TYs volunteering in Turkey-Syria earthquake fundraiser this Friday

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By Sarah Kirwan

Teams of transition year students will be on the streets of Mullingar this Friday from 9,30am doing a bucket collection to raise funds for the Concern Turkey-Syria Earthquake Emergency Appeal.

The students, along with other volunteers, are being coordinated by local Concern representation, Brian Fagan, and the collection day is supported by Robert Troy, TD.

Brian’s Treasure Chest, the charity shop on Castle Street, Mullingar, is also be accepting donations over the next two weeks.

Shop owner, Brian Fagan, encourages everyone to get involved as “you’ve got to help people in situations like that where hundreds of thousands are homeless, tens of thousands are dead, children suffering, women suffering, everybody in a terrible situation”.

“We need to be helping them, feeding them, sheltering them.”

People can also donate to the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Emergency Appeal at https://www.concern.net/donate/turkey-syria-earthquake-emergency-appeal.

Mr Fagan said that TY students have long been involved with volunteering at local events for years; he said it is good experience for young people, as it allows them to “think about those who are less well off than themselves”.

He said cash donations are preferred, and the money raised will buy blankets, heaters, food, and water for those in affected areas.

Concern will also establish community centres in stable areas, providing families with places to sleep.

Donations to the appeal will help to save the lives of those affected by this catastrophic event, Mr Fagan said: “These people are dying of cold, dying of hunger. So, please, they need your help.”

Deputy Robert Troy said that he considers Irish people to live in a democratic country with a good standard of living, and “when you look at the devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and people losing their homes, access to water, clothing, shelter, food, we are a generous race, and we want to give people the opportunity to help”.

Deputy Troy said his office had received queries from constituents asking how they could contribute, and he was anxious to help provide a means to do so.

“We have a moral obligation to help others where we can,”, he said.

Brian Fagan is looking for more volunteers to help on Friday; contact him via Brian’s Treasure Chest or call him on 087 798 5889.

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