A ROSS-SHIRE elderly people’s care home has received a cash boost after a local MSP set up her stall at a Highland games.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant was at the Lochcarron Highland Games on Saturday in an effort to further reach out to the community.
She said: "We try and keep the communities of the Highlands and Islands aware of all we do by having surgeries, newspapers, newsletters, web pages and now even twitter.
"However I am acutely aware that there is still sections within our communities who we are not reaching out to, so this year myself and my colleague David Stewart MSP, decided to try and attend some community events as well."
This was the first visit Rhoda Grant and her team made to the Lochcarron Highland Games, which were enjoyed by several thousand people in warm, dry conditions.
"I’m delighted with the response we received," she said. "We set up our stall with a few political related merchandise, leaflets relating to our current road safety campaign ‘sensible driving – always arriving’ and also copies of the accompanying road safety DVD.
"However, the big attraction was the face painting which was carried out by two local teenagers Ellen Welsh and her friend Hannah who did an outstanding job and painted the faces of about 70 children and even some adults!
"Thanks to the generosity of Boots the Chemist, Superdrug, Poundland and Teddy Mountain all in Inverness, we were able to have quality prizes for our name the teddy and tombola and in the three hours that we were at this event, we raised £217 which we donated to the local Howard Doris Centre in Lochcarron."
Mrs Grant added: "It is important that when we come to visit communities we show that we really do care, that we let those living in these communities know that we are standing up for them and we are and will always to our best to serve the residents and businesses of these areas."
Events co-ordinator at the Howard Doris Centre Ann Mackay said: "I am delighted and grateful to Rhoda and her team for donating the money that they raised towards the Centre as it will allow us to put it towards ongoing trips and events for those resident with us".
The next community event for the Labour MSPs is the Black Isle Show on August 1 and 2 when another local charity will benefit from money raised.
