FANCY a designer handbag without feeling guilty about treating yourself?
Well, that’s exactly what you can have if you visit the Temperance Hall in Kinsale on Friday, July 19.
A sale of new and pre-loved handbags will be available to purchase, along with jewellery and clothing from Kinsale’s Ms Ellie’s Boutique from 9.30am, and all at affordable prices.
The sale is the brainchild of local woman Cathy O’Brien, who was inspired by her son, David Tobin, to raise funds for a cause close to his heart.
David went to Tanzania this year as part of a contingent from Kinsale Community School, organised by the Teretta Foundation which helps people in need in the East African country.
Now Cathy is raising money for the same foundation.
The story begins last year, when Lenore Good of the Teretta Foundation went to Kinsale Community School to organise a trip to Tanzania with the transition and 5th year students.
There was huge interest from the student body, and in February a group of these students, including David, went on the trip of lifetime.
Initially, the tasks set by Lenore were to raise enough funds at home to supply one year of food for at-risk primary school children, to raise enough to manufacture wheelchairs for children who never get the chance to be outside participating in games with their friends, and to raise enough to take 240 children on an excursion to a waterpark.
Lenore says she was humbled by the efforts made by these teenage students.
Kinsale Community School has a good track record with regard to sustainability, fast fashion and human rights issues, so there was huge support from the faculty.
Lenore, along with Joanne O’Connor and Veronique O’Toole from the school, accompanied the students to Tanzania for their two-week stay.
The first task was to purchase the food and other supplies, load them, and deliver them to the school. Over the two weeks, they spent time every day with the children at the Stella Maris school. They played games with them and visited their houses. They sang and danced together and bonded over the fortnight. The day trip to the water park was magical for everyone involved.
The accompanying teachers kept the parents at home up to date on how everyone was getting on and what their daily diary entailed. Group chats kept everyone in the loop.
By the time the students came home to Cork, they had been given an experience they would never forget. It was humbling and inspiring.
Cathy says the trip was an enriching experience for her son David and he would love to go back again.
“David cherishes the memories and the experiences he had there and was eager to do something more to help if he could,” she said.
Cathy was looking for a way to help, so when Lenore asked if anyone would like to go to Tanzania with her next September, Cathy jumped at the chance.
The Teretta Foundation is raising funds to build a safe house for at-risk children in the area. This would be able to accommodate 95 vulnerable children and will cost €250,000 to build.
The aim is to raise €50,000 for each trip so the work can begin in earnest.
Lenore is hoping to secure corporate funds to cover the costs of a playground, kitchen, and other necessities, and with the generosity shown so far this can surely be achieved.
Lenore’s first trip was in 2021 and the amount of work this lady has done to help the needy in Tanzania is staggering.
With the aid of her friends both here and in Tanzania, Lenore has secured day trips for 540 children, has bought more than 30 wheelchairs for disabled children, secured food for the school for over two years, and has helped 26 students go to college.
After David’s trip, aiding the Teretta foundation has become a family affair and Cathy will be assisted on the day of the sale by her son and daughter and other members of her family.
There will be a small charge at the door to cover tea, coffee and scones, and if anyone wishes to get involved, all the information on the work of the foundation will be available on the day.
Handbags are mounting up ready for their new owners, the special pieces from Ms Ellie’s Boutique have been chosen, and the friends are lining up eager to help on the day.
So get your guilt-free handbag at the Temperance Hall in Kinsale on July 19, and help a very worthy cause, and some very worthy women, to do something amazing.
