Trócaire thank people of Kildare for raising more than €125K in latest campaign

Charity service Trócaire have thanked the people of Kildare who helped to raise over €125,000 for Trócaire’s east Africa appeal, which took place this time last year.

The donations made by the people from the county provided water, food and funds to 75,000 people in Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia.

The appeal was launched in response to the threat of famine in these four countries as a combination of drought and conflict left almost 25 million people facing severe food shortages. A national church collection, organised by the Bishops' Conference in support of Trócaire's work, was held on the weekend of July 22/23 and raised €5m for the emergency response.

Generous contributions from parishioners in the Kildare & Leighlin diocese raised €125,055.72, helping to provide vital aid, including:

Food support to 13,000 primary school children in Kenya.
Rain water harvesting installed for 1,112 households.
Clean water for 4,800 people in Ethiopia.
Seeds and tools for 20,000 people in South Sudan.

Éamonn Meehan, Trócaire Executive Director, thanked the Irish public for their compassionate generosity to last year’s campaign.

“This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of the national church collection held in support of Trócaire’s east Africa emergency appeal,” said Meehan.

“The Kildare public’s compassionate generosity has helped us to provide emergency food, livelihood support and water supplies to some of the most devastated areas in the region.

“On behalf of Trócaire, I would like to sincerely thank every parishioner who donated to this appeal.”