The Letterkenny Rotary Club Christmas Tree of Remembrance has become a virtual experience this year, with people invited to contribute online.
The Rotary Club Christmas Tree of Remembrance in the Letterkenny Shopping Centre has been synonymous with the Christmas season for over ten years.
During that time, almost €45,000 was raised for the main beneficiary, the St. Vincent de Paul Society with also similar amounts being donated to other local charities (eg Donegal Down Syndrome Association, Pieta House, RNLI, Donegal Dyslexia Association, Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland, Donegal Hospice to name a few) and Rotary Charities worldwide.
The Tree could be spotted in the central aisle beautifully adorned with Yellow Ribbons all of which were lovingly prepared by supporters in return for a financial contribution, in honor of loved ones they wanted to remember at the Festive Time. Sadly, due to the Covid 19 pandemic and in order to comply with Government and health guidelines, a Tree in that capacity was just not possible this year.
Therefore, the Rotary Club, like most other charities has had to think outside the box and are glad to report that a Virtual Christmas Tree of Remembrance has been unveiled on Tuesday 1st December.
The main charity this year is the St. Vincent de Paul Society and other Rotary Charities. The club is appealing to the community for support and to spread the word far and near via friends and family.
The link to the Virtual Christmas Tree of Remembrance is Letterkennyrotaryclub.givingtrees.ie
A spokesperson for the Rotary Club said: “We are extremely grateful to our faithful Sponsors Letterkenny Shopping Centre, Donegal Oil Company and Divers Hyundai Garage and generous Rotarians for funding this facility. Just click on the link and you will be led through a very easy process in order to create your own personal ribbon, your message can be open for public view or retained private. Please be assured that any personal information supplied will not be shared with any other source and is only required in order to complete this process. By holding your cursor over any ribbon on the tree, it will be possible to read the open messages only.
“Once the donation and dedication process has been completed, you will receive a confirmation email, and then will also have the discretionary facility to share your dedication via any social media source that you wish to select from the options available.
“We’ve been assured that the entire process is ‘Easy peasy’ for savvy mobile users, but if in doubt, just ask someone you trust for assistance. The Tree will be open online for dedications until 6.00 pm GMT Christmas Eve. Traditionally there has always been an Ecumenical Blessing for the launch of the Christmas Tree in the Shopping Centre by Fr Brian Quinn and Rev David Houlton and this is also available online this year too.
“Please remember loved ones at home, abroad, ill, deceased, or for any other personal intention now at this time by supporting our 2020 Virtual Christmas Tree of Remembrance while also helping many who are going to face a different Christmas this year and who may have to rely on The St Vincent de Paul or other similar charities to see them through the last few weeks, of what has been a very difficult year for everyone around the globe.”
The link to the Virtual Christmas Tree of Remembrance is Letterkennyrotaryclub.givingtrees.ie