Santa lends his support to Kells People’s Resource Centre

Santa Claus visited the Kells People's Resource Centre on Saturday, where large crowds of children were waiting anxiously to greet him. Santa was a week late in his visit to the centre, as the event had been postponed from the previous Saturday because of the recent freezing weather. Buyt the man himself was there to support the fundraising bring and buy sale which was held to raise funds for the centre. There was a variety of activities throughout the day for children and adults alike. The Kells Silver Band opened the day's proceedings at 12 noon, while the Round Tower Brownies and Kells Ladybirds sang carols and performed a nativity play. A group of local musicians also sang carols and there was face-painting and crafts for the children. Homemade bread and soup was served throughout the afternoon. The bring and buy sale of unwanted gifts proved very popular, giving people an opportunity to do some Christmas shopping at knock-down prices. The resource centre moved to a new premises in the old Church of Ireland school building at Carrick Street earlier this year. The centre, which provides vital services to families, jobseekers and the newly unemployed, as well as countless local community groups, had been getting busier every day and the former premises at Church Street was too small to meet current needs. The Kells centre provides a drop-in support service, education and training, help and support to local families and community groups, counselling, employment rights information and public access to computers and the internet, as well as many other local services. The Kells centre is run on a tight budget with the help of many volunteers who are holding a night-in (they say they cannot afford a night out!) at the centre this Friday night to thank the many people who have helped out at the resource centre over the past year.