Moray Emergency Relief Fund will benefit from online whisky auction
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An online whisky auction has raised £2240 for the Moray Emergency Relief Fund.
Members from Rotary clubs in Moray joined forces and donated whisky for auction via Speyside Whisky Auctions Ltd, who offered to sell the whisky with all of the profit going to Rotary for distribution.
Margaret Stenton of Rotary Elgin commented how Club members were frustrated that their usual fundraising activities had been curtailed as a result of Covid-19 and so the opportunity for an online whisky auction, generously supported by Darren Robertson of Speyside Whisky Auctions, found appeal.
Tanya McLaren, President of Rotary Forres said “The past few months have been extremely difficult for a lot of
people and it’s great that we in Rotary have been able to do something to help such a worthwhile cause.”
Participating Rotary clubs included Aberlour, Elgin, Forres and Keith, and the auction proceeds have now boosted the total donated by Rotary Moray (which includes Buckie), to The Moray Emergency Relief Fund, to an overall £6740.
The Moray Emergency Relief Fund, spearheaded by the two Lord Lieutenants, Lord Lt Seymour Monro and Lord Lt Andrew Simpson, was established and registered in April.
The charity, described by its trustees as a safety net of last resort, is run on an entirely voluntary basis, and is intended to provide financial relief to those people in Moray who are suffering severe hardship, illness or poverty as a result of the Coronavirus crisis, and who have not been helped sufficiently by measures available from the UK and Scottish Governments and Moray Council.
Mr Monro said: “One of the most effective elements of the Moray Emergency Relief Fund is the speed with which we can step in and give help.
"Successful applications can often get help within 48 hours, and we have been humbled by the thanks we have received from those that we have been able to help, and very importantly, by the generous donations made by individuals, businesses and groups such as Rotary, thus enabling us to provide that much needed financial support.
"Given the ongoing difficulties that individuals and families are likely to face as a result of the further restrictions currently in place in an attempt to suppress the second wave of coronavirus, it is inevitable that there will be further reliance on the relief fund."
Information on how to donate towards the Relief fund or how to apply for support is available on www.lordlieutenantmoray.co.uk/moray-emergency-relief-fund or on Moray Council’s website.
