EUR
STG
Aly Harte’s original ‘Belfast Beauty’ has found a new home thanks to an appeal by Aly in aid of The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul (SVP).
The original painting was donated to the charities by Aly to help raise funds and awareness of their annual Family Appeal Stuff A Bus campaign which provides children living in poverty in Northern Ireland with a gift to open on Christmas Day.
Raising more than £2,100 from 155 supporters, Laura Jackson from Boardmills was drawn as the recipient of ‘Belfast Beauty’.
On accepting her painting from Aly, Laura said: “I am absolutely delighted to win this stunning artwork from the very talented Aly Harte in a meaningful competition for The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul. I have a familial connection with The Salvation Army as my Great Aunt and Uncle, Josephine and Philip Kerr, were both Salvationists. They left Northern Ireland in 1965 for Perth with their young family where some of their activities were providing a hostel for young single Aboriginal mothers, running youth groups, working in homeless hostels and setting up soup kitchens for firefighters on the front line.”
Handing over 'Belfast Beauty', Aly said: “As a mother of three boys I cannot imagine the heartache of not being able to provide for them and I felt that by donating ‘Belfast Beauty’ to the Christmas Family Appeal Stuff A Bus campaign I was helping in my own unique way. I would like to congratulate Laura on receiving the painting and I hope that it brings her joy for many years to come.”
Jacqueline Wright, Major, The Salvation Army, said: “We are grateful to the 155 people who donated to this appeal with Aly Harte to raise funds for the Family Appeal. Meeting Laura and hearing about her great aunt and uncle being Salvationists is heartwarming and I hope she enjoys her new painting.”
Pauline Brown, Regional Manager, SVP, said: “We really appreciate the inspirational Aly handing over this beautiful painting for our Family Appeal to help others at what can be the most worrying time of the year. It was great to meet Laura and just lovely to see the happiness on her face upon receiving the painting.”
The Salvation Army and SVP Family Appeal Stuff A Bus campaign is supported by Translink and U105. This year, the campaign enabled more than 20,000 toys to be donated to children across Northern Ireland.
