A Newry man has stepped up to the plate to help provide a replacement alternative to an event which provides families of the area’s Women’s Aid Refuge with Christmas dinners and craic, after this year’s was cancelled.
For 11 years, ‘Bite n Banter’ has been held in the city as a day to bring individuals and families together for good food and fun.
One of the selfless volunteers on the event’s organising committee is Conor Morgan, who regards himself as having been “lucky” to play a part in providing a “warm, inviting” environment for families during what is often felt to be one of the hardest times of the year.
All are normally invited to come along and have food and spend time with the “amazing volunteers” and “take that loneliness away at that time of year where people can feel the most lonely despite their circumstances”.
Each receives a home-cooked dinner to help make their day “as special and homely as what some take for granted”.
Regrettably, however, this year it will not be going ahead due to “unexpected circumstances”.
Unwilling to let anyone miss out, Conor has now set up a GoFundMe page with a target of £800 to help provide an alternative solution.
He said: “I’d still like to provide that Christmas Dinner for those women and families who will spend the festive period in the Refuge.
“This fundraiser will help me to continue something that we have been doing for many years and as always we humbly know this is only made possible by the incredible generosity of the people of Newry & Mourne.
“I hope once again that with your help we can continue to make positive memories for someone who might not have what a lot of us take for granted at this time of year.
“Any contribution you might be able to give will help us make this happen and I want to take this opportunity to say thank-you so much from the bottom of my heart.”
