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Staff and students at Southern Regional College have delivered an incredible 1,108 items to support local families in need and additionally have raised £1,734 for Alzheimer's Society NI through a Christmas raffle.
Through a month-long appeal running from 12 November to 12 December, students and staff joined forces to collect 310 toys and 798 essential food and toiletry items, making a tangible difference at a critical time of year.
Students across multiple campuses took the lead in several fundraising activities. Travel and Tourism students on the Newry campus hosted a coffee morning at the college's Graduate Restaurant raising £849, whilst students on the college's LEAP programme at Armagh campus demonstrated their creativity and enterprise skills creating a range of handmade Christmas crafts and sweet treats which were sold on campus, in addition to organising a raffle.
raising a fantastic £849 for Alzheimer’s Society NI.
All proceeds from the Armagh sale and raffle were used to purchase additional gifts for the toy appeal. Armagh LEAP students also donated food items directly to the church-based community group VIBE in Armagh, further extending their support within the local community.
In Banbridge, LEAP students showcased their talents producing a range of handmade Christmas crafts and a festive hamper, which were sold at Tesco, Castlewellan Road earlier this month. Through their efforts, students raised £242, with the full amount being added to the overall donation made to Alzheimer's Society NI.
Commenting on the initiatives, Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College said: "The Christmas spirit is clearly alive and well across Southern Regional College and I am incredibly proud of the collective effort shown by our staff and students. From donating food and toys to supporting student-led fundraising activities, everyone has played a part in making a meaningful difference for others this Christmas. This is the perfect season for hope and generosity, and as a Further Education college rooted in our local community, we see first-hand the pressures many learners and families face."
The combined efforts of staff and students across all Southern Regional College campuses have ensured that local families will benefit from much-needed support this festive season, whilst also raising vital funds for Alzheimer's Society NI, the college's charity partner.
