LET'S HELP ATHLONE

The people of Mullingar have been first in the queue to help Athlone - and all the help we can give is still needed there.The Westmeath Examiner has been nominated by the Westmeath Volunteer Club as a centre to which items can be left for delivery for the relief effort in Athlone.But the Volunteer Club is also appealing for some local club or organisation to take on the role of collecting Christmas toys for the children of the families who have been affected by the disaster.Already emergency items have been left into the Westmeath Examiner office, and they are to be delivered by Examiner staff to the flood centre that has been set up in the old Barratt's Shoes store at Athlone's Golden Island shopping centre.Individuals can, of course, call to the the flood centre themselves with donations."Anything that is not used in Athlone, will be passed on to the flood disaster areas in other parts of the country," says Ian O'Flynn of the Westmeath Volunteer Centre."We would like it if some organisation like the GAA maybe, would see if they could organise a toy collection for the children. People just don't have the money - and it's coming up to Christmas," he said.Tadhg Carey, editor of the Westmeath Examiner's sister paper, the Westmeath Independent, spoke this week of how bad things were."It's been a week of nightmare proportions for many people in Athlone, with around 100 houses flooded in various parts of the town, and many more damaged by flood waters," he said."What has buoyed a lot of people is the support of friends, families, and the wider community, and in that context, many people in Athlone will be glad of the support of their fellow Westmeath people in Mullingar."In situations where people lose possessions and where much of their houses are sodden, and under water, every little contribution that people can make will be gratefully received by the Flood Relief Centre in Athlone."The following is the list of items that are needed:• Sterilising equipment for babies' bottles• Clothing - secondhand is acceptable, but it must be clean, dry, and in good condition• Hats, gloves, scarves, coats (as above)• Shoes• Bedlinen - but it must have been laundered• Duvets - only if very clean• Cooking utensils• Toasters and kettles• All sorts of kitchen equipment• Financial donations. The disaster account fund is: The Flood Relief Fund at Athlone Credit Union, sort code 98-51-70; account number 03806011, and line reference: SVDP 25096.