Posted online: Dec 28th, 2009

A Derry charity which provides a lifeline for many families at Christmas has revealed that it’s suffering badly because of the credit crunch.
Each year, St Vincent de Paul (SVDP) helps hundreds of families get through the festive period.
However, this year the charity has admitted there has been a ‘notable decline’ in the level of donations made to its local branch.
As a result, SVDP are struggling to help as many people as they would like to.
Bernard Feeney, Area President for SVDP, said there had been a definite downturn in donations due to the current economic climate.
“We’re down in a major way in every sort of collection,” he said.
“Even in our Christmas carol service and our collection at the church gates, there is definitely a marked decrease.
“We noticed the decrease in the carol services throughout the city and we’ve definitely seen a drop in the donation of gifts for our Friends of the Poor where people bring along gifts like toys and tins of biscuits to the nativities.”
Mr Feeney said that local businesses were also feeling the pinch as they had noticed there were fewer donations from stores within the city.
However, he said that, although there was a general decline in donations, there was a significantly reduced but steady flow in other areas.
“The average weekend collection at church is down but it seems to be is holding its own,” he said.
“Having said that, anyone that we’re aware of that has been referred to us through social workers, CPN, doctors or Women’s Aid, are all covered.”
And paying tribute to the charity’s volunteers, Mr Feeney added: “Nobody is going to go without.”