Grants help hundreds of vulnerable people in Ulster

Adam Finlay, Crumlin YFC, said: “Through the help of the PowerNI grant we have been able to extend our grocery boxes to the local community. It has been a great opportunity to return the support to those that support us. Branching out from just groceries we have provided fruit boxes, homemade crumble and custard to help brighten people’s spirits who have been isolated during the pandemic. We have also kept up our donations to ATLAS charity with children’s toys and are also starting our ‘Positive Pebbles’ initiative to help spread some positivity in the local area.”

Jack Johnston, Randalstown YFC, explained: “Using the grant money from Power NI, Randalstown YFC purchased food and essential household items. We held a collection evening on Tuesday 2nd June where members kindly donated lots of non-perishable foods. On Thursday morning 4th June, all of these important items were delivered to the Jam Store foodbank in Randalstown. The volunteers at the foodbank were very grateful and impressed with the huge quantity of food donated. The Jam Store in Randalstown provide over 60 food packages a week to people in need within the community. Randalstown YFC would like to thank Power NI for the kind grant which will be very useful to people in the local community.”

Meanwhile a spokesperson for Donaghadee YFC said: “During these tough times our club decided to contribute items to our local food bank based at Shore Street Presbyterian Church in Donaghadee.

“We managed to collect a whopping 290 items to donate to the food bank. The grant allowed us to donate £100 to Shore Street Presbyterian Church to help cover the cost of essential and much needed items such as milk and meat.”

Ellen King, Glarryford YFC, remarked: “Part of the money we received went towards providing books and toys for the paediatric ward at Antrim Area hospital, our local hospital. The ward was in need of books and toys for the children that are wipeable because unfortunately due to infection control they can no longer use books etc.

“Finally, we created goodie bags and activity booklets which are now available at Glarryford Post Office, free of charge, for those who are self-isolating and/or finding the days very long.”

Katie Witherspoon, Lisnamurrican YFC, commented: “ Lisnamurrican YFC members have made up 72 care packs and four of our members delivered them to Mill Brae Fold and Innisfree Residential Home, both in the local area of Lisnamurrican Young Farmers’ Club. The residents and staff were very grateful.”

A spokesperson for Moneyrea YFC noted: “We donated hand sanitiser and a huge box of celebrations for the staff at Maryland healthcare who are working with patients and staff who have sadly contracted Covid 19. We have spent the remaining money on food for the Moneyrea food bank. We would like to thank Power NI for enabling us to do this as a club.”

Victoria Bradley, Garvagh YFC, said: “The grant will contribute towards giving more food to the food bank which we are planning to do in the near future.”

Meanwhile a spokesperson for Kilrea YFC said: “We have donated to St Patrick’s Church Kilrea, who work with the food bank in Maghera, The Link. They were very happy and thankful as they have been very busy with getting local people food and electricity over this last number of weeks and are still busy.”

Clare Adams, Coleraine YFC, said: “We are also in the process of making up hampers which we will be distributing to the local nursing homes in the next couple of weeks.

“But this grant also helped to cover the cost of work which had been completed prior to receiving the grant (distribution of letter etc) it’s has been a great help and we are so thankful for it to allow us to continue to provide the support to those who need us at this difficult time.”

Becca Connor of Mourne YFC remarked: “Mourne YFC donated a boot load of food to the Cornerstone Foodbank in Kilkeel and have been delivering shopping to people that didn’t want to leave the house.”

Finally, Claire Holmes, Curragh YFC, commented: “Curragh YFC made a donation of food and children’s activity packs to Maghera Foodbank (Maghera Cross Community Link). Maghera Foodbank do fantastic work within the Maghera and surrounding areas. The foodbank has been providing up to 200 food parcels each week to those living within the local area during the COVID-19 pandemic. All at Curragh YFC and Maghera Foodbank would sincerely like to thank Power NI for their grant award which made this donation possible.”

A spokesperson for the YFC concluded: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Power NI sponsoring our Covid-19 Emergency Grant Scheme, allowing us to help the most vulnerable in our rural communities.”