An opportunity for people to remember loved ones who will not be with them at Christmas is being provided by Bangor and North Down Rotary Clubs.
They have joined forces with Tesco to have a Remembrance Tree placed outside the store in Bloomfield Shopping Centre.
All next week (12th to 18th Dec) passers-by will be invited to write messages of remembrance on yellow ribbons which will then be tied to the tree.
The wording can be a message of reflection or remembrance for a person or an event that means a lot to them at Christmas time. Members of the Rotary Clubs, local Probus Clubs and Tesco staff will be on hand to assist anyone who needs help with preparing their message.
It is expected that most messages will be for departed loved ones, family members living abroad or who are ill but there are many other reasons that someone may want to record a memory.
The yellow ribbons will be displayed all week and in return people are being asked to make a small donation to charity if they wish.
The money raised will be split between the Samaritans, the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice RNLI, and other Rotary Charities.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Deborah Girvan, has signed the first of the many ribbons that will adorn the Rotary Club of Bangor Remembrance Tree at Tesco Bloomfield from monday 12th – Sunday 19th December.
Tesco Community Champion Annette Craig who has helped us at every stage of the project said, ‘Tesco Bloomfield is excited to be a part of the Remembrance Tree project this Christmas and I hope visitors to the store will take a moment from their shopping to remember somebody special.’
President Gavin Walker concluded, ‘The Rotary Clubs of Bangor and North Down are looking forward to welcoming you to the Remembrance Tree.
‘We’re providing this service as a practical and poignant way for everybody to remember a loved one who won’t be sharing Christmas with us this year.
“Some of us will remember a family member who has passed while others will perhaps want to acknowledge that they’ll miss somebody who is living away and can’t get home for the holiday.
‘Whatever the reason, the Remembrance Tree is there for you and we look forward to welcoming everybody during the week.’
‘It is a pleasure to be working with the Rotary Club of North Down on this project and I was pleased that Past President Bertie Carson could join us for the launch event with the Mayor.’
Volunteers for this project should contact Stanley Smith.