Tomorrow morning, Friday 18th, March the first donations will be made from Belfast Cathedral’s “Barrel of Hope for Japan”.
Cheques totaling £12,000 will be presented to representatives of Christian Aid and Rotary International for immediate use in Japan. The cheques will be received by Deborah Doherty of Christian Aid-Ireland, and David Lowry of Portadown Rotary Club.
Dean Houston McKelvey said, “Once again we are delighted and humbled that people have come to the cathedral in the knowledge that we will process their donations and get them to the point of need through two bona fide agencies with whom we have worked on previous occasions when disasters have struck.
“The donation to Christian Aid will be forwarded by way of the National Council of Churches of Japan, and the donation to Rotary International is for their emergency Shelterboxes, several hundred of which have already been distributed in Japan.
“We have had first hand reports from the archbishop and bishop of the area in Japan most deeply affected by the tsunami and earthquake. Together with the excellent cover provided by the news media, none of us are in any doubt that all the help we can send is definitely needed and needed now. The “Barrel of Hope” at the cathedral is available each day from 10.00 am to 4 pm, Monday to Saturday, and at service times on Sundays. Postal donations with cheques made payable to Belfast Cathedral Sitout can be sent to Belfast Cathedral, Donegall St, Belfast BT1 2HB.
“My sincere thanks to those who have contributed and enabled this response”.