WORK OF CHARITIES ‘NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT’ IN FACE OF AUSTERITY AND HUMANITARIAN CRISES
South of Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine is marking the UN International Day of Charity with a call for people in Scotland to do what they can to support the work of charities and voluntary organisations in the face of austerity at home and humanitarian crises across the world.
Ms McAlpine – who serves as Deputy Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Volunteering and the Voluntary Sector – has lodged a parliamentary motion paying tribute to the work of local, national and international charities working to support people in need of help.
Commenting, Joan McAlpine said:
“Charities and voluntary organisations do an incredible job in communities across Scotland and further afield – and it is right that we take this opportunity to pay tribute to the important work they do in helping some of our most vulnerable people.
“Here in Scotland we have seen the number of people forced to rely on foodbanks skyrocket in recent years in the face of austerity – and with humanitarian crises causing unimaginable misery across the Mediterranean and around the world, the work of charities and voluntary organisations has never been more important.
“In the face of these heartbreaking problems both at home and abroad, it’s vital that each of us does what we can to ensure the voluntary organisations doing such important work have all the resources they need to provide the greatest amount of support to the greatest number of people.
“That’s why I would urge everyone in Scotland to volunteer in their community or to donate what they can to a charity – to do their bit to stand against the human suffering which we see far too often both at home and across the world.
“In Dumfries and Galloway the response to the current refugee crisis has been overwhelming – in less than 48 hours, almost 1,000 people region wide have come together to assist the relief efforts in Calais by organising collection hubs across the whole area.”
More information, including details of the region wide hubs, can be found on the Facebook group Massive Outpouring Of Love – D&G Refugee Action and there will be a collection from 10am – 4pm this Saturday 5thSeptember and 6.30pm to 9pm on Tuesday 8th September at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 36 Edinburgh Road, Dumfries, DG1 1JQ.
