Carols night aids 400 families
A JOINT effort of community groups has helped raise more than $20,000 for families in need.
Brothers Leagues Club and St Edmund's College held their annual Christmas Carols night for the fourth time in early November, with the proceeds helping 400 Ipswich families.
Despite the inconvenience of rain, the event managed to raise $22,000.
In the fours years it has run, the night has raised more than $80,000 for the charity.
St Vincent de Paul St Mary's conference secretary Owen Wildie said the funds would help those families with $40 a week for six months.
"It's local people donating to the people in the local area," he said.
St Edmund's principal Brendan Lawler said the carols were a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community.
"We think it is a really important way to support St Vinnies because they give people a hand up, not a handout," he said.
"They really do help people in what can be a difficult time around Christmas.
"It helps to make sure Christmas is a time of joy, not depression.
"It helps our boys; they have a responsibility to look after other in the community."
Brothers Leagues Club general manager Mark Hennelly said the carols had been a success each year.
"The reason we got involved was firstly an approach from St Edmund's to take it as a combined event," he said.
"It's a really good way to support the community; the money raised stays in the community and we are a community based club. It's a great fit for us."
