Support those who are less well-off this Christmas at Coleman’s Garden Centre Charity Christmas Stall on Saturday 1st December

We have launched tour Christmas Appeal to help those who are less well-off have a better Christmas.
We have chosen to support a local charity Manna 4 Many which provides street aid for the homeless in the Centre of Belfast and also a Giving Tree to support the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) by donating Christmas presents for local children who would most likely receive none.
Margaret Sloan MBE, a much valued customer at Coleman’s Garden Centre and Café Restaurant, is hosting a charity fundraising day on Saturday 1st December 2018 to raise much-needed funds for these two very worthwhile charities. Currently, Margaret and her team are working flat out creating beautiful products to be sold at her stand and all proceeds from Margaret’s Christmas stall will go to help the homeless and provide Christmas presents for underprivileged children who otherwise would receive nothing on Christmas Day.
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Manna 4 Many Street Aid was founded by Stanley Donaghy and provides genuine support to those sleeping rough in Belfast City Centre. Stanley and his team set up outside Boots on Donegall Place every Thursday evening from 10.00pm to midnight and provide those sleeping rough with hot tea, coffee, sandwiches, snacks and other nourishing foods.The team also give out sleeping bags and blankets to those in need, along with warm hats, thick socks, gloves and toiletries.
Currently the charity is saving for a new 3000w generator that has a very low noise level and a panini machine that will enable him to provide a nutritious hot meal to those affected. If you can spare a couple of pounds, perhaps you might feel inspired to contribute by making a donation at Colemans Garden Centre.
Stanley is also looking for donations of the following items:
  • High-grade sleeping bags.
  • Thick, warm blankets
  • Warm, woolen hats
  • Gloves
  • Toiletries
Perhaps you have some of these items that you would like to donate to support those who are homeless and sleeping rough over Christmas? You can leave your kind donations at the Cash Desks at Coleman’s Garden Centre, Templepatrick, and Stanley will collect them weekly in the run-up to Christmas.
SVP Giving Tree
We are  also supporting local charity, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP), by displaying a festive ‘Giving Tree’ in the Garden Centre in the run up to Christmas.  SVP works with vulnerable families and individuals in every town, village and city across Northern Ireland, including the Templepatrick area.
We at Coleman’s are encouraging our customers and visitors to buy a toy and leave it under our Giving Tree.  The toys will then be collected and distributed by SVP to those in need to help ensure that every child has a present to open on Christmas morning.
Special little cards hang on the Giving Tree asking for a toy for a boy or a girl at different age levels. Customers who wish to support the appeal simply take a tag and return an unwrapped gift, along with its tag, to the tree.  Or they can bring a new toy, unwrapped, to our cash desks at our Garden Centre.
The festive season allows us all to reflect on how we can help others and make a difference through acts of kindness and generosity and we trust that together, we can ensure that the ‘Giving Tree’ is packed with presents for SVP to distribute to those who need them most.
It might cost you £10.00 and a little bit of effort to actually bring the toy to our Centre but it will mean so much to a child who most of the time receives little.
Maybe, during the month of November, you can give up a luxury for a week, and spend the money that you save on a lovely present for a child who is less fortunate than you. Some ideas are:
·      Maybe you normally go out for a meal? For one week, stay at home and enjoy home cooking and buy a toy with the money you have saved.
·      Perhaps you enjoy going out for a drink? For one week, entertain at home and purchase a toy with the money you would otherwise have spent.
·      It could be that you eat chocolate? For one week, give up chocolate and buy a lovely toy for a child.
·      Perhaps there are other things that you can forego for a week and use your savings on purchasing a toy?
  Your support no matter how small will be greatly appreciated.