Ramelton couple Myrtle and Alan Doherty have issued a massive thank you to the local community after another successful Belarus orphanage collection.

The lorry which delivers all the donations from Donegal to Belarus

Each January, this kind-hearted family works throughout the month to gather essential items for children and adults in need who live in the Vesnova asylum in Belarus. The residents of the centre continue to live with the effects of the Chernobyl disaster.

Thanks to generous donations flooding in from people across Donegal and beyond, the staff and residents will be receiving a lorryload of goods.

This year the Dohertys’ collected an amazing 115,000 nappies/incontinence items, dozens of boxes of toiletries, nappy creams, wipes and vital medicines, 10 huge boxes packed with vitally important sanitary towels, medical equipment and bedding/clothes and some soft toys.

Myrtle and Alan had great help from friends as they loaded the lorry last week in the pouring rain.

Belarus collection 2020
Belarus collection 2020
Belarus collection 2020

“Massive thanks to all the brave souls who came and got soaked along with us, the craic was good and we had it done in 2 hours,” said Myrtle Doherty.

“Big thanks to Orla Simpson, Frances Moore and Rachelle Mc Menamin for doing collections for us. 

“Big thank you to Jim Kavanagh for driving up from Kilkenny to collect everything and to Mick and Declan from Community Radio Kilkenny City who came to do the interview and feature.

“It’s been a great year, we are forever thankful for the support we get every year.

“Here’s to the next one!!”

Stay tuned to Donegal Woman next January for details on how you can support the appeal again in 2021.