'Laois is a very generous place' - Concern volunteers thanked for raising almost €250k

The CEO of Concern has thanked Laois supporters for raising nearly a quarter of a million euros last year.  

CEO David Regan was in Portlaoise on Friday (November 3) to meet supporters of the Irish humanitarian organisation and thank them for their unfaltering support over the years. 

Speaking to gathered volunteers at the Parish Centre in Portlaoise, he said, "The commitment and dedication that our supporters have given in the last almost fifty years has helped Concern and humanitarian issues stay in the public consciousness. It’s great to be able to come and thank them in person and update them on what we’re doing with the money they’ve raised." 

He continued: "I’ve recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where almost 7 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, making it one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world.

"Concern has been working to support people, providing safer housing, toilets, clean water sources and soap, among other things.  The continued support of the people of Laois allows us to respond to situations like the ones I’ve seen in DRC.”

Many volunteers have been with the organisation since the 1970s, either through raising funds at home in county Laois or through working with Concern in countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Thailand, Tanzania, Sudan, Angola and Uganda. 

Helen Corbett, who has fundraised for Concern in Portlaoise since 1974, started the group with friends, stating, "Laois is a very generous place, with a strong community spirit.  

“Despite the current economic climate and difficulties, people continue to donate. They want to give and contribute to Concern’s work. I’ve fundraised for almost 50 years, as it’s not about just handing people money, it’s about giving them the skills and training to improve their own lives." 

The group will be holding a collection for Concern around Portlaoise town on Friday November 24. 

She added: “We have a lot of dedicated volunteers who come to the aid of the organisation on every occasion to raise funds. There are people from surrounding parishes who help at every event and have so for a number of years. COVID has brought its own problems because we have not got back to our full strength since, and people not carrying cash anymore is also a challenge." 

This year marks 55 years since Concern was founded by a small group of people in Ireland to respond to famine and conflict in Biafra.

In 2022 the humanitarian organisation reached 36 million people in 25 of the world’s poorest countries.