SPEAKING at the launch of the Redemptorists Chirstmas Hamper Appeal in St Clement’s College last week, Fr Seamus Enright commented on how things are getting worse for some people.
“In a city of plenty, children go to school hungry every morning and, as Christmas approaches, some older people will have to decide between whether to have something to eat or lighting a fire.
“Novas worked with more families last year than ever before. They worked with 274 families and 592 children, who were homeless or at the risk of homelessness.
“Mid-West Simon reports a significant weekly increase in the numbers attending their food bank, with a noteworthy increase in the number of families looking for help,” Fr Enright added.
Niall O’Sullivan of O’Sullivan’s Pharmacies, who launched this year’s appeal, said it was important that the business community supported such worthwhile ventures. People will be able to donate to the appeal at any branch of O’Sullivan’s Pharmacy.
Pat Talty, principal of St Clement’s, remarked that the college has been supporting the appeal since it was launched in 1972. Students bring donations of food to school, which are placed in the Crib at the Redemptorists. Transition Year students help pack hampers.
Last year, the Redemptorists and their partners distributed 6,000 hampers across the city and county as well as into neighbouring parts of Clare and Tipperary. They worked with 39 conferences of the Society of St Vincent de Paul and 31 other organisations. The Redemptorists need to raise at least €200,000 between now and Christmas, to fund this year’s Christmas Hampers.
