SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY

Causeway Coast and Glens Council is being asked to discuss the refugee crisis and what can be done by the Borough to help.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Sep 2015, 08:00 BST
Ballymoney woman Nadine McCandless who has opened her home as a collection point for the NI Calais Refugee Solidarity campaign. INBM37-15Ballymoney woman Nadine McCandless who has opened her home as a collection point for the NI Calais Refugee Solidarity campaign. INBM37-15
Ballymoney woman Nadine McCandless who has opened her home as a collection point for the NI Calais Refugee Solidarity campaign. INBM37-15

A number of councillors have asked that the issue be raised as soon as possible at the next available Council meeting.

Meanwhile local people who answered the call for donations to send to refguees via a ‘Convoy to Calais’ have thanked members of the public who donated so generously.

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Ballymoney woman Nadine McCandless thanked all those who took the time to bring donations to her home from where her husband Matthew will drive a van-load of supplied to a collection point in Ballymena later this week.

Kathleen McGarry with Rev David Ferguson Church of Ireland, Fr Brian Daly, PP St Patricks and St Brigids RC Church and Rev John Standbridge, Ballycastle Presbyterian church who lent their support to the refugee appeal by visiting the local sorting centre. inbm38-15 kmaKathleen McGarry with Rev David Ferguson Church of Ireland, Fr Brian Daly, PP St Patricks and St Brigids RC Church and Rev John Standbridge, Ballycastle Presbyterian church who lent their support to the refugee appeal by visiting the local sorting centre. inbm38-15 kma
Kathleen McGarry with Rev David Ferguson Church of Ireland, Fr Brian Daly, PP St Patricks and St Brigids RC Church and Rev John Standbridge, Ballycastle Presbyterian church who lent their support to the refugee appeal by visiting the local sorting centre. inbm38-15 kma

Moyle Refugee Group has been busy all week accepting the donations from the communities of Cushendall, Armoy, Ballycastle, Rathlin Island and Ballintoy. The drop off centres in these areas had to ‘shut-up shop’ early in order to sort, box and label the abundance of donations received in just one week!

There will be a convoy containing these supplies leaving Ballycastle this coming weekend destined for Newry where the Lion’s Club will then continue the journey onto Calais at the end of this month to distribute the aid to the camp.

Although the collecting of aid has now came to a close, the next phase begins - fundraising to support the transport costs.

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Events include a bagpack this coming Saturday at Eurospar Ramoan Ballycastle, pub quiz at The Anzac Bar on Friday 25th September starting at 8.30pm and a coffee morning on 28th September at Corrymeela.

Raffle tickets are also on sale with fantastic prizes supplied by the local business community, including cash prizes and home heating oil. Tickets are available at The Anzac Bar, Concern and Moyle Road Spar Ballycastle and The Fullerton Arms. Ballintoy.

Last Friday evening, a group of local SDLP councillors met with representatives from the world of business, church and laity in order to formulate a strategy that can be implemented in co-operation with other interested parties within the Causeway Coast and Glens Council area.

Cllr Stephanie Quigley said: “I would invite anyone else who wishes to help in any way to contact me. I am certain that we have sowed the seeds of a truly interdenominational, cross-community group that will work together diligently for the benefit of those most in need.”

Related topics:Causeway CoastCouncilNewry