MORE than 120 charities have benefited from funds raised by the recent 'Black Santa' appeal in Belfast.
Representatives from the organisations gathered at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast at an event to mark the distribution of £130,000 collected in the 2022 Black Santa sit-out.
The annual Christmas charity vigil at the steps of the cathedral took place from December 18 until Christmas Eve.
The 2022 appeal focused on registered charities supporting the most disadvantaged families and individuals in the community, as well as charities working directly with refugee communities settling in the north.
The sit-out was started in December 1976 by Dean Sammy Crooks, who was dubbed 'Black Santa' by the media because he wore a black Anglican clerical cloak to protect him from the elements and the name has stuck for more than four decades.
On Sunday, representatives of 126 charities attended the annual Good Samaritans Service, which aims to thank the organisations for their work and those who generously donated to the appeal.
The Very Rev Stephen Forde, Dean of Belfast said the service was "an opportunity for us all to celebrate the work that every one of the 126 charities here today carries out across our community".
"You are the people with the passion, the care and the self-giving dedication," he said.
"Thank you for who you are, for all that you do, and for all the care that you give."
