Festa ta’ Ġenerożità back under the big tent at Dar tal-Providenza’s parking lot in Siġġiewi

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Festa ta’ Ġenerożità will be back under the specially erected big tent at Dar tal-Providenza’s parking lot come Sunday January 1st after an absence of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was announced by Fr Martin Micallef, Director and Mrs Nadine Camilleri Cassano, Administrator of the Home during a press conference held this morning, Friday 9th December 2022.

As in the past, Festa ta’ Ġenerożità will be broadcast live on all the main TV stations between 10.00am and midnight. At 9.30am TVM2 will broadcast the Sunday mass celebrated by H.G. Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna from the Home’s chapel.

Fr Martin said that the residential services that the Home offers are personalised services that respond to the needs and aspirations of the residents. The Home is committed to continue improving the quality of life of its residents as well as to their inclusion and participation in community activities. In order for this to happen yearly investments in human resources are necessary together with purchases of new equipment, maintenance work and other capital projects to enable the opening of more homes in the community.

Works done this year include refurbishment of Dar Pirotta in Birkara that included the installation of a new lift; maintenance work wherever needed; human investment especially in professionals; an English professor, Tony Osgood, an expert in the sector of persons with disability, was invited to give intensive training to all the support workers at the Home. This training was meant to improve on the services the Home offers. Mr Osgood and other Maltese experts in the disability sector provided much needed advice to help the Home in devising a long-term strategy for the next 15 years.

Plans for next year include the opening of a new home in Balluta; more staff training; investment in more professionals; commencement on a new project of renovation of four flats in Villa Papa Giovanni that should help in improving the environment in which some of the residents live and, finally, the finalisation of the planned long-term strategy for the Home.

As of today until New Year’s day donations, that will be included in the final tally at end of the TV marathon, can be made as follows.

  • €10                  5160 2012
  • €15                  5170 2013
  • €25                  5180 2014
  • €50                  5190 2085
  • €100               5130 2022
  • SMS €7           50618922
  • BOV Mobile   79324834

Paypal and Dar tal-Providenza accounts with the main banks: APS Bank, BOV, HSBC, Lombard Bank, BNF Bank.

Donations can also be made by cheque and sent to Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Triq Lapsi, Siġġiewi SGW2822. However this does not apply to donations less than €20 because of a Central Bank directive that does not allow banks to cash such cheques.

Other donations may be made at the Dar tal-Providenza office in St Paul Street, Valletta (behind the market) Tuesday to Saturday between 9.00am and 12.00pm, from the Paola Catholic Bookshop as well as at the Rabat Malta square on the days leading to Christmas till the 1st of January 2023.

Mrs Camilleri Cassano said that tied to the Festa ta’ Ġenerożità there will again be an exhibition and online auction of works of art donated by Maltese and foreign artists. Those interested may scan all the works of art as well as information on the online auction that will take place on Sunday January 1st on www.dtpauction.com or www.belgraviaauctions.com.

All the works of art will be part of an exhibition that will be set up at the Parliament of Malta courtesy of the Hon. Mr Speaker, Dr Anġlu Farrugia. It will be open to the public between December 15th and 26th. Opening times are between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday and between 9.00am and 12.30pm on weekends. Visitors are asked to present their Identification Card.

Mr Kevin Papagiorcopulo, Editor-in-Chief of Newsbook, spoke about the 30-hour music marathon broadcast on 103FM Malta’s Heart between Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December 2022. 25 station presenters will be taking part in the music marathon and will also find time to visit various parishes to accept donations.

Other fundraising events during the rest of December include:

  • Solo Art Exhibition by Kenneth Zammit Tabona at the Xara Palace Hotel in Mdina. Part of the revenue generated from the sale of these works of art will go to the Home.
  • Train Ride in the Siġġiewi main square between 10:00am and 5:000pm of the 13th of December organised by the Friends of Dar tal-Providenza.
  • Festival of lights and songs entitled “Carols under the Stars” organised by Lorraine Buttigieg will be held in various localities.
  • Bicycle ride by a group of students, teachers and parents on Wednesday, 14th December 2022 leaving from St Benedict’s College in Kirkop and ending up at Dar tal-Providenza.
  • Christmas Village in aid of the Home at the St Thomas Moore Secondary School in Żejtun on Friday 16th December 2022.
  • Blessing of animals at the Home’s carpark in Siġġiewi on Sunday December 18, 2022.
  • Christmas on Campus – a fund raising campaign at the University of Malta for various entities including Dar tal-Providenza and the Community Chest Fund.
  • Fund raising on the radio station of the Għaqda Mużikali Santa Marija in Qrendi.
  • Concert on the 30th December 2022 organised by the Augustinian Community at St Mark’s church in Rabat, Malta.
  • Collections in parishes in Malta and Gozo on New Year’s Eve and on New Year’s Day.

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