An appeal has been made by Castleisland’s Ray of Sunshine volunteers for some last minute supplies of pencils and crayons and unwanted, new baby and young children’s clothes.
The goods need to be packed and documented before January 30th in preparation for their departure on February 7th.
Charlie Farrelly, Martina O’Mahony and Hannah Curtin will leave as volunteers to work on a Ray of Sunshine Foundation project to build a centre for abused children in Mombasa in Kenya.
Extra Baggage
They found that their travel arrangements and weight allowances will accommodate the extra baggage needed to carry the items mentioned above.
Fundraising for the trip was launched last July and the annual Paudie Fitzmaurice Memorial Tractor Run in August was rolled in as part of the drive.
The whole series of fund gathering events have been endorsed by Kilkenny hurling legend, Henry Shefflin – who was appointed to the Ray of Sunshine Foundation ambassadorial role following the death of RTE Radio and TV personality, Derek Davis earlier last year.
Abused and Deprived Children
The proceeds of the fundraising effort will be used to better the plight of abused and deprived children in Eastern Africa.
The afore mentioned, local volunteers answered an appeal issued by the Ray of Sunshine Foundation for volunteers from all over Ireland to help build a rescue centre for children in that type of horrendous situation in Mombasa.
“The foundation helps with aid to the poorest of the poor in underdeveloped countries having special regard for the plight of children and particularly to their educational and safety needs,” Martina explained.
Rescue Centre
“These children have no state funding nor do they have charitable organisations in Kenya to aid them or stand up for them. Their only chance of an improved life is for volunteers to go to Kenya to help them out.
“The rescue centre will give them a chance of a brighter, better future and to improve their quality of life and set them up with the opportunity to get out of the poverty trap,” she said.
People who can help with the supply of the listed items are invited to contact: Martina O’Mahony on 087 94 49 569 or Hannah Curtin on 087 76 96 274 or Charlie Farrelly on 087 20 56 150.
