The GAZA TOY DRIVE were very busy last weekend. John Kavanagh and a team of volunteers started itemizing all of the donations in Waterford to prepare them for storage. They will be working this week too so give John a call or message him if you want to row in. The good people of Dundalk and surrounding areas started early saturday morning packing a truck and van with all boxes of toys, clothes, medical supplies, bikes, prams and buggies and headed to Dublin and we unloaded in the rain. I have to confess to being caught up with logistical problems so I did not unload but saw the enormous work that took place. I heard singing in the background as the guys took the loads of boxes through the rain to the warehouse as we had a difficulty with access that day. They were inspiring...no complaints....Thanks so much to Chris O Donnell for managing all and many collegues from Dundalk including Kevin and JJ Quigley and Sean for supporting on that day too. Sunday saw the arrival of a forty foot truck with over 1,000 boxes from the North of Ireland with many of the volunteers in tow having made the journey by car. Thanks to Teresa Darragh, Michael Dickson, Robby Martin Conor Cunningham, Sarah Cunningham, Frank Mc Grillen and Conor Cunningham, Sean, Helena Kearns, David Francois, Lisa McCormack, Paul Maher, Colm Mc Gahern, Tom, Johanna Mc Cullagh, Helen Mc Elduff and Seamus O Leary. The over thousand were all carefull packed and we had great fun as we formed a human chain.... Along with all of the items I was handed 800 pound which along with 200 pond from the same group, the Ballycastle Gaza to North Antrin group adds up to a great 1,00 pound. Thanks to all involved. We alkso received some precious messages and pictures from children in the north of Ireland to be taken to the children in Gaza. These are very special indeed. There is so much more to be done...the next stage of the work is only starting...the assembly of everything in Dublin with every single item accounted for and so in the coming weeks I hope that I can, with your help, form a band of volunteers...it is a long process that we could never have envisaged. Gaza is suffering dreadfully at the moment. I have been speaking with friends there in the past few days as I always do and along with the West Bank there are feelings of fear, uncertainty, anger and rage. Understandably with the many layered aspects and effects of this insane occupation and inhumanity. Though this is hard work and there does nolt seem to be a rapid end in sight we can only begin to imagine the feelings of people, families and children, under enending occupation with no certainty of a resolution or lasting peace. in shaAllah that will come soon...we will stand together till it does. Thanks to everyone that in the many ways have supported this. Without you all it would not be possible and without more support it will be a much heavier task. Eileen
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 21:59:06 +0000
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