News

For the last nine years, luminaries have lined the streets of Donegal Cliffs the evening of December 24th. It is a beautiful display and it is also special because once the costs of the luminary supplies are covered, the remaining dollars are donated to a charity. Last year, through the generosity of those who helped by donating money and/volunteering, 2200 luminaries covered both sides of every street and we donated $2822 to My Very Own Blanket to provide the gift of a handmade blanket foster children can call "their very own". If you have any suggestions about a charity that we will donate to this year, please let me know.

 

There are some processes that we put in place and we will continue to make it easier to manage while keeping it a fun activity for all. This year Debbie Saxe, Michael Simmerman, Sherry Nowell and Daniela Laor Lohse have already been involved in planning for this year. We are now at the point where we need your help and the following information outlines how you can help.

 

DONATE: we need to be sure supply costs are covered. So please take a minute now to donate. An easy way to donate is using the DCHA online payments feature, which you can access by clicking the following link:  http://www.donegalcliffs.org/payment.php. (Thanks Sherry ????). You can also access the same DCHA online payments by going directly to the DCHA website www.DonegalCliffs.ORG and clicking on the "Online Payments" link. When using the DCHA online payments, you can choose to donate using a PayPal account or by using your credit card.

 

Or if you prefer, you can write a check made out to DCHA and mail or drop it off to Irmeen Siddiqui, 4562 Dunleary Drive, Dublin 43017. All funds donated above the supply costs this year will again be donated to a local charity to help our neighbors in need. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

 

VOLUNTEER: This is an easy volunteer opportunity-close to home, no meetings and each job takes no more than a couple hours. We have an opportunity to sign up electronically using SighUpGenius. So please take a moment to sign up using the following link: :https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F49A5AE23A2FF2-10th (Thanks Daniela????)

 

For those who prefer to sign up using email, please email me directly at irmeenqamar@gmail.com if you can help with any of the tasks below. If you choose this method to volunteer, please be sure we have your name/emails, the task(s) you want to do.

 

Pre-assembly: This is an easy family activity that consists of folding bags and preparing the candles (make sure candle wicks are up) and has made assembly run much quicker. Needs to be completed before December 11 in your home. We have a few families who already offered to help with this. (Thanks to Michael Simmerman, Peter and Sherry Nowell, Ann Clifton and Melanie Krook????). But we still need your help to make this year's display possible.

 

Assembly- Needs to be completed before December 22 in your home- typically assembled in your garage. Last year 15 families volunteered and most assembled and stored no more than 150 luminaries- taking about 45 minutes to an hour to complete. The more volunteers we have the fewer each site will have to assemble. Once we have finalized the assembly sites, then we will make arrangements to drop off the supplies (bags, candles and sand).

 

Distribution- December 24 from 1:00-3:00 PM- You would be assigned to an assembly location(s) for pick up and distribution. You will have materials that show you how/where to distribute the filled bags.

 

Candle Lighting- December 24 from 5:30-6:00 PM-  As in the past, we ask that people light their own candles at 5:30 and their neighbors if they are not home or are unable to light them. We need several volunteers to drive around and light any that were missed.

 

Clean-up- December 25 from 3:00-4:00 PM. As in the past, we ask that people pick up and dispose of their luminaries in front of their homes or their neighbors if they are not home or are unable to dispose of them. We will need a few volunteers to pick up any remaining bags.

 

Look for Friday email updates on the progress of this project. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me @irmeenqamar@gmail.com and I will be happy to respond.

 

Thank you so much for all the support. With your generosity, Donegal Cliffs can again provide a beautiful display and help someone in need during this holiday season????.

 

Regards,

Irmeen