Over €30,000 spent on Trocaire gifts last Christmas in Meath

People from Co Meath spent €31,043.51 last Christmas on gifts for the world's poorest people according to overseas development agency, Trócaire. The charity thanked Co Meath for remembering families in need overseas when planning their Christmas shopping, as it launched its 2012 Christmas gift range. Justin Kilcullen, Executive Director of Trócaire said: "Last year the people of Meath added chickens, goats, school fees and other unusual items to their Christmas shopping lists to support people struggling to survive in developing countries. We are incredibly grateful for this tremendous goodwill and thank everyone from Meath for the massive difference they are making to so many lives." "By kindly buying our ethical gifts, people in Meath are creating real turning points for families living as far away as Somalia and Zimbabwe. Money earned by simply breeding chickens for example, helps parents earn enough to give their children an education, and with that, opportunities for the future." This year's Trócaire 'Gifts of Change' range includes chickens for families in Malawi (€5), solar lamps for Ugandan families (€10), olive trees for Palestinian farmers (€20), school fees for children in Zimbabwe (€30), goats for families in Malawi (€50), bicycles for HIV/AIDS support workers in Zimbabwe (€70), maternal healthcare for women in Somalia and Guatemala (€100), water for communities worldwide (€150) and cows for families in the Democratic Republic of Congo (€200). Each gift includes a colourful Christmas card containing information about the purchased gift to pass on to a friend or family member. Trócaire 'Gifts of Change' are on sale on trocaire.org or by calling 1850 408 408. They can also be bought exclusively in Veritas stores nationwide, selected Easons stores and in Trócaire centres in Maynooth, Co. Kildare, 12 Cathedral Street, Dublin 1, 9 Cook Street Cork or 50 King Street Belfast.