LODGE TO RESCUE

The Compassion Charity Shop in the village was targeted last Friday but there was some good news for the charity as the local Orange Order stepped in to help.

The Lurgan District No6 and members of Dollingstown’s LOL 62 Wickcliffe’s Invincible Morning Star rallied round for the shop and this week presented a £500 cheque to help refill the tank - the proceeds from a table quiz between the Lurgan District and Lower Iveagh.

Shop manager Joyce McPherson described what had happened: “I came down on Saturday morning and went to put the heating on but nothing happened. I thought we couldn’t be out of oil yet as we’d only had it filled the previous week.”

She said there was a lock on the tank but as she was to discover the thieves had circumvented this by cutting the oil pipe to drain the tank.

Joyce went on: “I have to confess I just stood and I cried, I didn’t want to be spending charity money on this.” The shop supports the Helping Hands Healing Hearts mission working in the Philippines with sick children who have nothing, getting them the medical aid and care they need.

Joyce said: “I’m sad it’s happened and sad people have such a mindset.”

She went on: “Its hard to know what to do to keep it safe, we had a lock on the tank but they just cut the pipe.”

Joyce said she was delighted when the local Orange Lodge had stepped in to help with their donation.

If you would like to help the charity by making a donation you can contact Pastor David Gowdy on 9261 2701.