Golden Island Shopping Centre has once again displayed its support for the local community by joining forces with Midlands Simon Community to help raise much needed funds towards the fight against homelessness in Westmeath.
Over the Christmas and New Year period, Golden Island had a wonderful Christmas crib on display in the centre, and also provided a free Santa’s grotto. As in previous years, the public had the opportunity to make a donation at both. This year a fantastic total of over €3,500 was raised.
All donations received go directly to the Midlands Simon Community and their fight to eliminate homelessness, not only in Westmeath but right across the Midlands.
Over the course of 2008, Midlands Simon saw a significant increase in the numbers of people requiring their services, with over 100 new cases being referred. This represented over 170 people, including individuals, couples, and families. The outlook for this year is no less worrying.
Midlands Simon Community helps people to progress out of homelessness by providing emergency accommodation, supporting people to source suitable accommodation, assisting people to move into their new home, and providing a range of supports to help people maintain their new home. Midlands Simon also helps people to overcome the many other issues faced by those who are homeless, such as health and welfare needs, poverty, loneliness, and isolation.
Cormac P Lally, development officer, Midlands Simon Community, said “Midlands Simon Community would like to express our most sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who supported this fantastic initiative, but especially Tony Mc Dermott and all the team at Golden Island for choosing Midlands Simon. Without this type of support, and the goodwill and generosity of the wider community we simply could not survive. It is wonderful to see that even in difficult times there is a willingness to support some of the most marginalised and vulnerable in our community.”
For further information on Midlands Simon Community, please contact Cormac P Lally, development officer, on (087 ) 9925083 or [email protected].
