LAST week, Celtic FC Foundation’s 2017 Christmas Appeal got off to a flying start, as the Club made a generous £10,000 donation. As the Christmas Appeal now begins to get into full swing, we turn our attention to this year’s partner charities which will benefit from the generosity of the Celtic Family this festive season.
We begin our spotlight series by looking at the work of The Wayside Club, a Glasgow-based organisation which aims to provide a place of refuge for those experiencing homelessness and social exclusion.
The Wayside Club has been operating for more than 80 years and has had a variety of bases throughout Glasgow over the years. Today, they are located in Midland Street in the centre of the city, where they cater for up to 100 people each evening. Hot food and drinks are provided to those in need, as well as access to shower facilities and the opportunity to have a haircut.
Tom Boyd Senior, father of the Celtic legend, has volunteered at The Wayside Club for the past seven years. He spoke of the work done by the organisation and the impact of Celtic FC Foundation’s Christmas Appeal donation.
Tom said: “At the Wayside Club we cater for a number of vulnerable individuals each and every night. Many of them are suffering from homelessness or addiction so we aim to provide them with a warm, safe space where they can feel comfortable and receive a hot meal.
“We do not receive any government or grant funding so we are solely funded through the donations which we receive, and every person who works here gives up their own time to help out on a voluntary basis.
“We’re open 365 days a year and we have a high volume of individuals coming through our doors each week. Therefore it’s vital that donations continue to come through allowing us to provide them with food, clothing, etc. The donation from Celtic FC Foundation is a truly invaluable lifeline in helping us to do this.
“Any money we receive from this year’s Appeal in particular will go towards buying food, essential clothing and sleeping bags, which will be distributed throughout the festive period. Thanks to the generosity of the Celtic fans we can look to give the individuals we support a happier Christmas and New Year.”
Through this year’s campaign we are looking to support around 300 local families facing poverty this Christmas, as we aim to provide a meal on the table and gifts for the kids. We want to bring the magic of Christmas to those homes, something they would not otherwise experience.
We are also looking to help vulnerable local pensioners to ease the financial burden at a challenging time of year plus a host of other local charities who support those experiencing homelessness or other disadvantage.
The generosity and compassion of the club’s support is unsurpassed, and Celtic FC Foundation is requesting the support of Celtic fans once again for an Appeal which proudly follows in the footsteps of Brother Walfrid, providing comfort to those on our doorstep.
So together, let’s Share the Spirit of Celtic this Christmas. To get behind the Christmas Appeal 2017, you can:
I. Donate by Text – text ‘CELT07’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70070
II. Donate Online – www.celticfcfoundation.com
III. Donate via Paypal – www.celticfcfoundation.com
IV. Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores
V. Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow, G40 3RE.
VI. Give as you Live via your Christmas Shopping – www.celticfcfoundation.com
VII. Take part in the Founding Fathers’ Fast on Sunday, November 6 and donate £5 through one of the outlets above.
VIII. Sign up for the Celtic Sleep Out, Glasgow on Saturday, November 11 – call 0141 551 4204 or email [email protected]
IX. Sign up for the Celtic Sleep Out, London on Friday, November 24 – call 0141 551 4204 or email [email protected]
X. Come along to the Ghirls for Good ladies event on Saturday, December 2 – call 0141 551 4204 or email [email protected]
XI. Support our matchday bucket collection on Saturday, December 2 – to register as a volunteer collector, call 0141 551 4204 or email [email protected]
XII. Take part in our new Light up the Clover event on Wednesday, December 13 – further details to follow.
XIII. Download Kevin Miles’ single ‘Celtic, My Heart and My Soul’ – call 0141 551 4204 or email [email protected] for download details.
