Derry’s Amelia Court shines bright with charity Christmas lights for Foyle Hospice & Food Bank
Residents from Amelia Court have joined together once again for their yearly show of breath-taking Christmas lights displays to raise money for Foyle Hospice and Foyle Food bank.
Although it is a community effort, the tradition was first started by organisers who want to be known as Mr and Mrs Claus, together with Mrs Claus’s daughter, Michaela. They launched the initiative to raise funds for Foyle Hospice after the family received support from the hospice during the illness of Mrs Claus’s sister, Kitty.
Michaela told the Derry Journal: “The Foyle Hospice we have chosen for the last few years and we will continue to support them until we stop doing the lights.
“We had an encounter with the Foyle Hospice a few years ago, where we spent Christmas in the Foyle Hospice with my mum’s sister Kitty. While she was in the hospice, my mum and Santa were here every night. We couldn't repay them for what they did for us as a family and for what they had done for Kitty for her end-of-life care, so we will do anything we for them on Christmas.
“What the Foyle Hospice does for the families in this city, they don't get enough recognition and enough funding, if we can raise a few pounds we will do it,” said Michaela.
This year, Amelia Court is also donating to Foyle Food Bank. They said they recognised the struggles that people are going through at this time of year and praised the food bank for allowing people to keep their dignity.
Michaela thanked the residents of the street for their support and for joining in on lighting up their homes.
“It takes a community to do this,” said Michaela. “We are really grateful that all the residents light up, it's not just about us, it's about the community coming together to raise all this money.”
Mr Claus particularly wanted to thank residents Lawrence, Dermot and Mickey for helping with the door to Santa’s Grotto, and Martin and Alfie who helped the street with their Christmas lights.
Ailbhe McDaid from Foyle Hospice thanked the Amelia Court families on behalf of both the charities. She said: "Any money that we get from the community benefits both charities greatly. This is such an amazing and community-focused event. Santa, Mrs. Claus, Michaela, and the elves are all giving up their time every day of the week to provide a little bit of happiness and a little bit of hope for people in what can be a terrible time for some, as well as benefiting the charities. It’s fantastic.”
Amelia Court is welcoming residents from 6pm to 9pm to the street for some Christmas magic every evening until Christmas Eve.
Santa and Mrs. Claus also have a grotto in Amelia Court, so kids can speak with them directly to tell them what they want for Christmas, and they may get some free goodies.
You can donate to Foyle Hospice and the Foyle Food Bank outside of Santa’s Grotto in Amelia Court.
For more information visit the Amelia Court Christmas Lights Facebook page.