Why we should keep church gate collections

He who has a heart full of love always has something to give!

With regard to the recent suggestion that church gate collections should be abolished (except St Vincent de Paul) I write as someone who helped voluntarily with church gate collections for almost 30 years in connection with a group who visited the elderly all over the city, providing principally company and, when necessary fuel, food and help with ESB bills, etc, for some of those we visited.

The church gate collection was one main source of revenue and it really helped us elevate the hardship being experienced by many of the elderly at the time.