Former Mayor helps raise £6k for Foodbank

Mayor of Larne Maureen Morrow along with Alderman Roy Beggs and Councillor Mark McKinty present a cheque gfor £4,311.09 Elaine Barrett, voluteer coordinator with Larne Food Bank and Alex Munro, Chair of Larne Food Bank, the money was raised by donations at the Mayor`s Ball and the Larne Sports Awards. INLT 24-028-PSB

The charity, which launched in March 2013, is designed to help those who are struggling to feed themselves and their families.

A number of local churches joined forces to set up the initiative, which provides free food to people in desperate need.

And the service received a major boon last October when Mayor Maureen Morrow selected it as her official charity.

A series of fundraising events organised by the Mayor over the past several months raised the fantastic total of more than £6,000 in aid of the organisation.

The bulk of the funds (£3,335) were donated at the Mayor’s Charity Ball in the Londonderry Arms Hotel, Carnlough, while around £1,000 was raised at the Larne Sports Awards

A further £1,700 was contributed at the Mayor’s charity concert in First Larne Presbyterian Church.

Councillor Morrow, who was succeeded as Mayor by Cllr Martin Wilson last week, said: “Larne Foodbank has achieved so much in the short time since its opening.

“The wonderful group of over 70 volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that food is collected and distributed to those in need in the borough.

“It is sad to think a service like this is required in Larne, but the Foodbank has fed about 800 people in the last 15 months, proving that the need is out there.”

Foodbank volunteer Alan Turner added: “Maureen has been a real champion for us and her efforts have helped raise a tremendous sum of money. This surpassed all our expectations and we are truly grateful to all those who donated.”