Id-Dar tal-Providenza, the residential home for persons with disability, this year raised €30,000 from donations from people who would have normally spent the money on wedding souvenirs, anniversaries or graduation parties and other special occasions.

Another €81,000 were received from legacies and estates and €78,000 from employees whose donation is deducted from their monthly pay. €53,000 were raised by donations that are made to the Home instead of flowers bought in funerals.

Fr Martin Micallef, the home's director, told a press conference this morning that the home requires approximately €3.5million a year, which translates into about €35,000 annually for each resident.

He gave the account when formally launching the Feast of Generosity which will be held on New Year’s Day by RTK4Charity primarily to raise funds.

He said the annual even was also important to enable visitors to tour the home, meet the residents and update themselves on projects. The projects include a multisensory room, a new office in Valletta, a new lift in Villa Papa Luciani, new toilets in the common parts of the home, widening of doors for safer evacuation of the residents if and when required, new air conditioning in two vans  and a new dynamic and interactive website.

The New Year’s Day fundraising events will include all day entertainment at the home. There will also be the annual Art Auction supported by Obelisk Auctions. More than 60 local artists have donated one or more pieces of art to be auctioned off. These works of art are on display at the Wignacourt Museum in Rabat up to December 27.

The exhibition is open every day (excluding Christmas Day) between 9.30am and 4.30pm. On New Year’s Day these artworks will then be displayed at Id-Dar tal-Providenza. The auction will be held online at www.dtpauction.com. On New Year’s Day there will also be the possibility to bid by phone or by visiting Id-Dar tal-Providenza in person. One can view a catalogue on www.dtpauction.com