Christmas food appeal this Friday and Saturday
Mullingar Lions Club Christmas Appeal and Family Support Projects
The annual Mullingar Lions Club Christmas Appeal takes place tomorrow, Friday December 13, and Saturday December 14, at Hughes Eurospar, Green Road and Buckley’s SuperValu, 9am to 8pm, when members will be there with collection boxes; people can also donate by card.
The Lions Club Christmas Appeal dates from the 1980s and remains a central part of their programme. Mullingar have worked with St Vincent de Paul on the appeal in recent years.
Frank Dillon, Lions Club, said that means no one is excluded, especially this year with the increased cost of living as more families need support. Since Covid-19, Mullingar Lions Club have issued vouchers in place of hampers, which people use to buy what they most need.
Frank said the Family Support Programme, operated by the Lions Club since 2011, helps families and individuals weekly, in tandem with frontline services.
Since 2014, the Lions Club in conjunction with David Smyth Catering provide dinners on Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day for approximately 250 people. The generosity and support of David and staff at such a busy time are monumental and the Lions Club express heartfelt appreciation.
In 2023 and 2024, the Lions Club provided support and respite care for families of children with additional needs, and are committed to a cause that makes the lives of families a little less stressful.
Mullingar Lions Club expressed thanks to all who support their work and who give with such goodwill, assuring them that their kindness makes a difference to people experiencing challenges in the Westmeath community.
Support for the summer projects – the cycling challenge and midsummer ball raised €30,000.
Indicative of that goodwill are the group from Mullingar Harriers who organised a Christmas Wreath Making Workshop on Sunday, December 8 in their clubhouse. People enjoyed making their own wreathes using the fresh materials supplied.
Thank you to Santa’s helpers for their hard work in organising that – Caroline Mullen, Nuala Moran, Terry Greene, Joanna Tyrrell, Tricia Broderick, Olivia Cooney, Mary Carr, Michelle Kavanagh and Brigid McCabe, said Frank.
“Mullingar Lions Club extend a míle buíochas to all our friends and supporters, wishing them a peaceful and happy Christmas and prosperous new year.”