Myrtle and Alan Doherty have organised another hugely successful charity drive in aid of the Vesnova children’s orphanage in Belarus.
The Ramelton couple collects nappies, children’s clothes, toiletries and vital medications to improve the lives of these children.
The orphanage cares for almost 200 children with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Speaking to Donegal Daily, Myrtle says that the response to this year’s appeal has been overwhelming.
“This year we collected 85,000 nappies, about 4,000 bags of clothes, shoes, bedding and toys, wheelchairs, walking aids, crutches, zimmer frames and dozens of boxes of toiletries, wipes and vital medications. All these donations will help make a huge difference to the people of Belarus,” she says.
“We didn’t get it all away today but the remaining 1,500 bags will leave soon.”
Myrtle and Alan would like to extend their gratitude to all who helped them make this appeal such a huge success.
“Thank you to the ladies who organised collections around the county; Edel McElhinney, Frances Moore, Rachelle Mc Menamin, Orla Simpson, Patricia McKemey, Shirley Sterritt, Rhona Crossan.
“Thanks to Lisa Mc Daid and her family for the huge amount of money raised in Castlefin.
“Thanks to Martin Anderson for allowing people to drop off nappies and toiletries at Sonder for us.
“Thank you to Joe Sonia Lynch for helping Alan bring nappies from Aldi yesterday morning.
“Thank you to everyone who came along to help load the lorry this morning, your help was very much appreciated, and to Jim Kavanagh for all his help, a big thank you.”
The lorry load of supplies is en route to Vesnova children’s orphanage, with the goods also benefiting other Belarusian orphanages as well.
Most of the children at the Vesnova orphanage were affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.
Chernobyl Children International have transformed this asylum from a place of hopelessness into a caring home for many children over the past 15 years.
Pictured below is just a glimpse of the remarkable amount of supplies gathered for the orphanage this year: