Kind locals have started a Christmas fund for East Cork families affected by the flood
It’s only eight weeks until Christmas.
And as dozens of family-run East Cork businesses continue to count the cost of the damage caused by flooding during Storm Babet, one kind-hearted local is setting her sights on making Christmas a little merrier for anyone affected.
Midleton resident Samantha Lancashire is asking for the public’s help to support those impacted in her hometown after almost all businesses on and adjacent to Main Street were damaged, some completely destroyed.
She’s hoping to raise €3,000 to create small gifts and care packages for children and elderly people during the festive season.
“Many local businesses are not only run by East Cork families but employ them too and those people are all currently out of work,” Samantha, who works as a life coach, told Yay Cork.
“But I’m not too steady on my feet after breaking my leg in recent years, so it’s fair to say I felt a bit helpless but knew I had to do something more.
‘It hit me how many children would be impacted’
“My aim is to provide 100 local children with a gift and 50 of our elderly with a care package to the value of €20. Something that will put a smile on their face after such a trying time.
“I know the world is a little crazy right now and I thought long and hard about asking for donations. Having seen the town I’ve called home for 17 years brought to its knees once again, I have to do something that will complement the already amazing clean-up efforts taking place.”
“I dropped some donations and supplies off to the Midleton Hub on Saturday and was in awe of the whole community rallying around. It was simply amazing! Everything from food, cleaning supplies, coffees and teas, and hours of labour were being donated.
“My husband and I then took some clothes to the drop-off point at a local school and it was there it hit me how many children would be impacted by this tragedy.”
If you would like to sponsor a gift or make a small donation, you donate to Samantha’s fund here.
