Businesses and groups in Dungannon and Cookstown have lined up a series of events to raise badly-needed funds for the country crippled by a devastating earthquake.

The horrific events in Haiti has left over 150,000 dead and over 1 million homeless and it is imperative that urgent help reaches the country as soon as humanly possible.

Cookstown Rotary Club, Dungannon pubs and clubs, Dungannon insurance business Autoline and the Mint Bar in Cookstown have all rallied to fundraise for the strife-hit country.

Cookstown Rotary Club
Cookstown Rotary Club, in conjunction with Rotary International, aims to send Shelter Boxes with tents and lifesaving equipment to the region.

Each Shelter Box contains:
- Thermal blankets, insulated ground sheets and a 10-person tent
- Waterproof ponchos and bin bags
- A multi-fuel stove that can burn anything from diesel to old paint!
- Cooking pans, utensils, bowls and mugs
- Collapsible water containers and water purification tablets
- A basic tool kit - hammer, axe, saw, pliers, hoe head, trenching shovel, rope etc
- A small, children's pack containing drawing books, crayons, pens etc.

Cookstown Rotary Club has launched an Haiti Appeal, starting with Fundraising Breakfasts on Thursday 4th February, at The Royal Hotel, Cookstown and Friday 5th February, at The Glenavon House Hotel, Cookstown from 7am - 10am.

A full buffet breakfast is included at a minimal cost of only £10 per person and £5 per child. The idea is simple, call in at any time between 7am-and 10am, pay on the door, then simply eat and leave knowing that by having breakfast you have helped save Haitian lives.
Please attend with your friends, family and work colleagues.

Donations will also accepted on the day, or at the following local Cookstown businesses: CFC Interiors, The Otter Lodge and McQueen's Jewellers.Alternatively cheque donations can be made payable to Cookstown Rotary Club Haiti Appeal, c/o Glenavon Hotel, 52 Drum Road, Cookstown, BT80 8JQ.

Telephone 07968716144 for more information, or visit www.shelterbox.org.

Autoline Insurance Group
This Friday, 29th January, staff in the Autoline Insurance Group office in Dungannon will be swapping their uniforms for ordinary clothes as they undertake fundraising activity in aid of the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

All staff will be asked to make a donation to the appeal, in order to take part in the non-uniform day.

Michael Blaney, Managing Director of Autoline Insurance Group told the Courier: "All of us have been shocked by the horrific scenes from Port-au-Prince after the devastation of the Haitian Earthquake.

"Our staff wanted to do something that would go some way to helping the victims of the earthquake and so we are undertaking this non-uniform day.

"If any of our customers or members of the public would like to make a donation, I would ask them to call into the Autoline office at Greers Road in Dungannon anytime on Friday, 29th January."

Mint Café Appeal
In response to the recent catastrophe in Haiti, Mint Cafe Bar, Cookstown is launching an initiative to raise money for the people affected by the tragedy.

The Mint is running a week of fundraising lunches starting Monday 1st February until Friday 5th February from 12pm-3pm daily.

It is asking that people come for lunch and choose the fundraising menu priced at £7. For this you will get a tasty lunch and tea or coffee and The Mint Café will donate ALL the proceeds to the Haiti fund.
Darryl Flynn General Manager of Mint told the Courier: "In view of the recent disaster in Haiti we felt that we wanted to help in some small way. So we came up with the idea of donating the full proceeds of our lunch trade to this worthy cause.

"We will put on a lunch special and tea/coffee for £7. Anyone who chooses from this special menu will also be helping those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

"Please help us raise money for the families involved and in some small way show that the people of Cookstown not only extend our sympathies but are willing to go even further and donate money in their time of need."

Dungannon pubs and businesses
At a special meeting in Dungannon, vintners from the town along with Dungannon businesses and councillors agreed to host a special fundraising event on Friday 12th February in Dungannon.

Local vintners and other businesses, in association with Dungannon Borough Council, are appealing to the public to come to Dungannon for events in and around the town.

Åll the proceeds will go to Haiti, which has been crippled by the recent horrific earthquake.

Are you running an event to help Haiti? If so, contact the Courier!

Source: Tyrone Courier
Date: Wednesday 27 January 2010