surrounding the mentally ill and the learning disabled.

And now the St. Brendan's Hospital Amenities Committee is coming to the fore with `Smash the Trash', a clean up day that will increase their profile in the community while making the St. Brendan's neighbourhood tidy.

Organiser Linda Trott said the goal of the September 26 event is to increase community awareness of the organisation, forge relationships and raise money.

"We are trying to make the community aware of who we are,'' explained Ms Trott.

"We also raise funds for the Committee's Wish List and to help provide meaningful activities for clients.'' Ms Trott said Smash the Trash, the brainchild of a sponsor, will focus on cleaning up the area surrounding St. Brendan's Hospital in Devonshire.

The boundaries will be Devon Spring Road, Devon Spring Lane, Hermitage Road, Collectors Hill and South Shore Road.

"We will need at least 50 people to take part,'' Ms Trott said. "There will be a meeting today at 6 p.m. at the St. Brendan's conference room for all interested.

For a quarter of a century, the St. Brendan's Hospital Amenities Committee has aimed to provide and allocate funds for comfort and enhancing activities for mentally ill and learning disabled clients and all those involved in programmes at or associated with St. Brendan's Hospital.

In addition to its Wish List the committee, which became a registered charity in 1973, also provides St. Brendan's clients with vacation and therapeutic programme allowances.

Ms Trott said the Committee was also appealing to sponsors to specifically make donations to the following: The vocational development programme, which allows clients to upgrade their educational skills and make their way into the workplace, is in need of $4,200 as well as computer equipment and fax machines; Client environment enhancement programme, which helps to furnish the wards in St. Brendan's, needs $5,200 in funds; and The client vacation programme is in need of $2,100 in funds.

"We will have other events to help raise funds for these programmes,'' Ms Trott added.

236-3770 ext. 3238.

TARGET ZONE -- The area near St. Brendan's Hospital, Devonshire, will be tidied up during Smash the Trash Clean Up Day on September 26. The borders will be Devon Spring Road, Hermitage Road, Collector's Hill and South Shore Road.