Farmer reaches out to those in need

A MAJOR voluntary campaign is seeking to send truckloads of spare clothes, food and household goods to some of Ireland’s worst affected flood crisis areas by the weekend.

Highlighting the charitable reaction of people towards the nation’s flood victims, 51-year-old farmer William Ruiter has called for anyone with spare items to pull together and send them to those in need of support over the coming weeks.

As part of the charity drive, hundreds of products vital in the aftermath of the floods are due to be collected at the Newbarn Farm in Donaghmore, Ashbourne, Co Meath, before the weekend.

Between Saturday and Monday, they will be driven to the worst-affected areas of Cork, Galway, Clare and Limerick in an attempt to provide support to those in most need.

Since revealing his plan on the Gerry Ryan Show yesterday morning, Mr Ruiter has been “swamped” with calls from people hoping to contribute to the support drive.

The scale of contacts, he said, proved people are willing to help those whose lives and homes have been damaged by the floods.

“When I saw the problems people were having on the news last night I thought, Jesus, some of them won’t even be able to use their homes when they get back. That’s why we came up with this plan,” the kind-hearted farmer explained.

“There’s very little point sending a small amount of money, €200 wouldn’t get them anything really, so me and Joe Bonner [local independent councillor] decided this was the best option to take.

“We’re trying to set up an account with AIB for anyone who does send money, but we really want people to send duvets, food, spare clothes, and even washing machines and the like that might be needed when people come back into their homes.”

Welcoming the move, St Vincent de Paul president Dr John Monaghan said the gesture underlined the public’s determination to support those in need.

However, he said the most appropriate way for people to help communities affected by the floods is to contact the group’s local welfare officers who have detailed information about the specific needs of each area.

“What’s being done is welcome, but the best way to do this is to contact people on the ground and see who needs what.

“There’s no point sending blankets and food to one area where they’re not needed and not to another area where they are.

“We would urge people to make contact with our local officers in Athlone, Cork, Galway and Limerick, because sometimes one area can get so much they don’t know what to do with it while another area has next to nothing,” he said.

* Anyone wishing to participate in Mr Ruiter’s voluntary drive can contact him on 086-2601896.

* A full list of local St Vincent de Paul officer locations is available on the group’s website, www.svp.ie, or the contact number 01-838 6990.

* Flood appeal donations can also be made to the Irish Red Cross on call-save 1850-507070 and www.redcross.ie.