Thu, 25th Mar, 2021
In our March blog, Max Kyck, highlights why support from businesses and individuals to Irish charities is so important, especially in light of the difficulties posed by the Coronavirus pandemic.
As General Manager and a company director of KMK Metals Recycling, a family-business set up by my parents over forty years ago, I am very proud that we are an active and contributing member of society and proud of our employee practices and philanthropic activities. Each year we receive many charitable requests and contribute to selected charities whose mission we strongly believe in.
The past year has been very difficult for many worthwhile and much-needed charities, as they have found most of their usual fundraising activities have had to be curtailed or cancelled due to COVID-19. At a time when vulnerable people need support more than ever, charities are running out of the money they need to keep going.
Covid-19 brought a sudden end to bucket collections, coffee mornings, sponsored runs, and all the other community fundraisers that charities heavily rely on. According to the Irish Examiner, the pandemic has left organisations with a €445m hole in their finances year-on-year.
We support many charities both national and local, including the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day and Pink Lunch, Concern’s Worldwide Fast, GOAL’s Duvet Day and Jersey Day, Midlands Simon Community’s Christmas Jumper Day and Christmas Lights Appeal, Dóchas Tullamore’s Tractor Run and the Tullamore Lions Club’s Annual. Staff have undertaken local food poverty appeals and raised money through Darkness Into Light for Pieta House. KMK Metals Recycling also sponsors local events such as the Tullamore St. Patrick’s Day parade and annual Cappincur GAA Club e-waste collection day.
Every battery recycled by WEEE Ireland through our organisation goes towards a donation fund to support the vital work provided LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice. This support allows LauraLynn to deliver invaluable hospice care and emotional, social and spiritual support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Back in 2012, when KMK Metals Recycling purchased the State’s controversial e-voting machines, we donated €10,000 to the Irish children’s charity, Barretstown.
The biggest charity event on our calendar every year is Daffodil Day. Every family in Ireland has been affected by cancer in some way and my own family is no exception. In the past, we have held awareness fundraisers in the local shopping centre, organised coffee mornings, sold daffodils that we grew in the company gardens and every year up until last year, my parents Kurt and Edeltraud Kyck, took to the streets of Drogheda, County Louth, selling pins and flowers to raise much-needed money for the Irish Cancer Society.
We will increase our company donation this year. We are selling daffodil pins in our workplace and will also hold a virtual collection to raise as much money as possible, and I would like to encourage other businesses to do the same and individuals to donate whatever is affordable. Unfortunately, cancer is on the rise in Ireland and the cancellation of hospital appointments and screenings will have exacerbated the problem. We will not know the true effect of COVID-19 for some time yet.
Over the years, we have witnessed many benefits to all the fundraising activities we undertake, including employee bonding and increased motivation. By supporting local initiatives, we have built a close relationship with our community and it always feels good to give a little back.
