Page 26 Pat Focuses On Charities


Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the charities you support, and more importantly what happens to the money you donate? Well we are about to find out! Hopefully after reading more about the charities it may inspire you to give some time, think of them the next time you clear out your wardrobe or have a new look in the house,


or maybe make a donation. Every little helps. I can’t believe a year has passed already, but what a year it has been.


Having visited so many charities, it makes you realise just how important


every


euro is that you hand over, whether it be at a fundraising event, buying something from a charity shop or putting into one of their collection tins.


I have met some absolutely wonderful people who give up either a few hours a week or their whole lives to help raise money for such worthwhile causes.


I have to admit that on a few occasions some tears were shed when I left some charities, especially the dog you need- Peter Singh, when he was nursing Phoenix, the dog that had been hit on the head with a shovel and then buried alive - how any so called human being could do such a thing is totally beyond me. Sadly Phoenix passed away a few months later but at least his last months were full of love.


Then there was Reach Out, where local homeless and needy people go to be fed, watered and clothed. I was there on family day and it was so painful to see those poor children who literally had nothing. Surely it shouldn’t be like that in the year 2015.


And of course S.A.T when a beautiful little dog arrived while I was there, and she was named after me. Pati has since gone to a good home which is great news.


All the charities work so hard to raise funds and awareness of what is going on. A lot of the crucial work goes on behind the scenes, work that most of us would never see but without which charities wouldn’t exist. I was lucky enough to see those crucial parts, it’s not always pretty, it’s not always what you would like, but it’s work that is vital and I take my hat off to all the people who do it because if it wasn’t for those people, I don´t know what would happen.


Like many others, I thought if you put some money in a charity tin or went to an event, then the animals would get fed and people would get fed and clothed. How wrong was I. Food and clothing are only the tip of the iceberg, no one thinks (me included) of the cleaning products, food bowls, bedding, medication, furniture.... the list is endless. But none of this would be possible without us all putting the odd euro into someone’s collection tin.


Running a charity is extremely hard work which couldn’t be done without all the volunteers, they all do such a marvellous job.


I have thoroughly enjoyed my year visiting such worthwhile charities and meeting the people that make them what they are, and next time I put money into a charity tin I know what will happen to it and how much it is appreciated.


Although my year with the charities has come to an end you haven’t heard the last of me as I will be starting on a new project very soon, so watch this space!


QF Focus Magazine


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