An appeal has been issued for food bank donations in the run up to Christmas.
Mid Ulster District Council is working in partnership with St Vincent de Paul, Antioch, The Link Maghera and the Magherafelt's Trussell Trust.
Two food bank appeal events will take place on Thursday 8th December at the Burnavon, Cookstown from 10am to 1pm and Friday 9th at the Bridewell, Magherafelt from 10am to 1pm.
As Christmas is the time for giving, the Council is urging residents to get behind the appeal and donate what they can to help families and individuals in the district who are struggling to put food on the table during this financially difficult time of year.
Recent statistics showed that one in five people are now living below the poverty line in the UK.
Items especially welcome for donation include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet roll, cereal, coffee and tea, tinned rice, tinned custard, tinned meat, tinned fruit, tinned veg, tinned fish, soups, pasta sauces, pasta and rice, long life juice, sponge pudding, jam, biscuits and snack bars,toys, nappies, baby food (packaged), and selection boxes.
Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Trevor Wilson is supporting the appeal.
He says while Christmas is a time of great cheer, this is not the case for many people living within the district
“This is why I am fully supporting the Council’s two food bank appeal events and I would urge everyone who can afford to donate an item or items to please do so. By giving a little, we could actually make someone else’s Christmas! This to me is the true spirit and magic of Christmas and I hope the collections speak for themselves at the end of the two days," he adds.
The Vineyard Church in Dungannon also operates a food bank drop-in morning every Thursday from 10.30am to 1pm.
And on 9th December Cookstown Primary School is hosting the annual Mid Ulster in Harmony school Christmas celebrations.
All donations made by pupils, parents and teachers will go to the food bank appeal.
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