A local community fund has been established for those affected by a lighting strike that severely damaged several houses in Newtowncunningham earlier this week.
The decision to establish the fund was made at a public meeting last night, organised by local Councillor Paul Canning.
Three homes were seriously damaged after the freak incident, but luckily no one was injured in the strike.
Cllr Canning said that “the energy in the room was second to none, showing a great community spirit and moral support to our friends in need,” as over 160 people attended the public meeting to lend their support and ideas last night at Trinity Court.
The “Newtown Lightning Fund” has been established to help repair the homes, with a committee also established that will meet weekly to discuss progress on the matter.
The fundraising campaign will run until the 17th of March, and all money collected will be lodged into an account at Kernan’s Post Office in Newtowncunningham.
Fundraising will take place at a number of events in the local area yet to be announced, with Cllr Canning also adding that a social media account for these efforts will be established in the coming days.
Also, one of the affected families has set up a GoFundMe to help with the costs of rebuilding their home.
The GoFundMe has been established on behalf of the Nesbitt family whose home was severely damaged by fire and water in the incident.
You can view that fundraiser here.