Milford & District Resource Centre ended 2021 on a high note and donated a total of €4,500 from the Milford Development Fund to local groups and causes across the wider Milford district. Nine grants of €500 were given to Milford St Vincent De Paul, Ramelton Tidy Towns, Fanad Care of the Aged, Céim Aniar in Downings, Rathmullan The Way Forward, Kilmacrennan Men’s Shed, Coole-Cranford Community Centre, Milford Tidy Towns and Pieta House in Letterkenny.

Declan Meehan presents €500 to Michael McElwee and Michael McFadden of Kilmacrennan Men’s Shed

Manager of Milford & District Resource Centre Declan Meehan said “We’d like to thank everyone who has supported Milford & District Resource Centre over the past year, and availed of the services of our Social Enterprise for their bookkeeping and accounts. It is great to be able to give those profits back into the community through these donations and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of our clients.” said Declan Meehan, manager of MDRC. “We would also like to thank everyone for supporting the Rags to Riches charity shop in 2021. Most especially we’d like to thank our amazing volunteers who run the charity shop, as well as everyone who has donated items for sale.”

In early 2021 the fund also contributed €1,000 to the Colmcille Trail works, €300 to fund replacement of benches in Milford Playground, and €850 to support Mica-affected families.

The Milford Development Fund is a fund which holds the money made from the Rags to Riches Thrift Shop and the profits from our Social Enterprise ‘Community Business Services’. At the end of each year donations are made to community groups, causes, projects and sports clubs across the Milford district. The idea of the fund is to ensure money spent by the community in Milford & District Resource Centre goes directly back in to support the local community.

Milford & District Resource Centre set up the fund in late 2019 and since then has donated a total of €11,290 to local community groups, sports clubs and causes. “The fund is a great way to help local clubs and community groups meet some of their expenditure so that they can continue the great work they are doing in our community,” said Meehan. “Since the fund was set up, we have been in the midst of a pandemic and this has been very challenging for community groups of all sizes and yet we have seen this sector meet the needs and wants of people regardless. These small grants help groups keep the lights on to make our community a better place to live in.”

Declan Meehan presents €500 to James Gibbons of Milford Tidy Towns

Declan Meehan presenting €500 to Máire McAteer and Margaret Dorrian from Fanad Care of the Aged

Declan Meehan presents €500 to Patricia Orsi of Milford St Vincent De Paul

Declan Meehan presenting €500 to Rathmullan The Way Forward representatives Mick McGlynn and John Gallagher