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Elderly at the heart of Black Santa's sit-out
Monday, 18 December 2006
The Rev Houston McKelvey will brave the elements in the run-up to Christmas to raise money for up to 200 charities.
The annual fund-raiser has been a Belfast tradition for around 30 years and it's the sixth time Dean McKelvey has donned the 64-year-old Black Santa cape to do his bit for charity.
Although the sit-out comes just weeks after the BBC's Children In Need marathon fundraiser, Dean McKelvey is confident that Ulster people will be as generous as ever.
"They come from right across Northern Ireland to give money every year, " he said.
"The people of Northern Ireland never let us down."
The focus of the fund-raiser this year will be the elderly, following a series of attacks on old people in the last 12 months.
He said: "I really am genuinely annoyed about the horrible attacks on the elderly in our community.
"Old people are entitled to feel secure in their own homes and they need outside support to help them feel that way."
Dean McKelvey also said the sit-out was more than just a gimmick and was now an integral part of Christmas in Belfast.
"It's not just a gimmick on the street in front of a building built at immense expense - we're doing something purposeful."
The Black Santa will be on the steps of St Anne's every day until Christmas Eve, between 8.30am and 5pm.
The tradition goes back to 1976 when the original Black Santa was Dean Samuel Crooks.
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