Golden Island joins forces with Simon Community

Golden Island Shopping Centre once again supported the community by joining forces with Midlands Simon Community, and in the process helped raise some much needed funds towards the fight against homelessness in county Westmeath. Over the Christmas and New Year period Golden Island had a Christmas crib on display in the centre, and also provided a free "Santa"s Grotto". As in previous years the public had the opportunity to make a donation at both. This year a total of over €3,500 was donated. All donations received go directly to the Midlands Simon Community and its fight to eliminate homelessness, not only in Westmeath, but right across the Midlands. Over the course of 2008 the Midlands Simon Community saw a significant increase in the numbers of people who required their services, with over 100 new cases being referred, this represented over 170 people. This includes individuals, couples and families. The outlook for this year is no less worrying. Midlands Simon Community helps people to progress out of homelessness by providing emergency accommodation, supporting people to source suitable accommodation, assisting people to move into their new home and providing a range of supports to people to help people maintain their new home. Midlands Simon also helps people to overcome the many other issues faced by those who are homeless such as health and welfare needs, poverty, loneliness and isolation. Cormac P Lally (Development Officer, Midlands Simon Community) said: 'Midlands Simon Community would like to express our most sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who supported this fantastic initiative, but especially Tony McDermott and all the team at Golden Island for choosing Midlands Simon. Without this type of support, and the goodwill and generosity of the wider community we simply could not survive. It is wonderful to see that even in difficult times there is a willingness to support some of the most marginalised and vulnerable in our community.' For further information on Midlands Simon Community please contact Cormac P Lally, Development Officer on 087 9925083 or c.lally@midlandssimon.com