Crosscare Food Services have focussed on adapting and improving our work with families and individuals needing food for over a year. We have expanded our model from just providing food parcels to offering people extra help with other problems they may be struggling with.
We now offer a “collection and casework” service where families get the food they need and essential advice and information that can be life-changing.
We have deployed three dedicated caseworkers to meet with each person and family who comes to us for food parcels. They also work directly with them to resolve any other issues, such as spiralling debt, possible evictions, and domestic abuse finding employment. New caseworkers will be in place in the coming months to cope with demand.
This means we can distribute food from one central location through smaller premises where we meet people on a one-to-one basis, and they avoid the stress of queuing for parcels.
As a result, we are changing and adapting our existing food services to ensure those most in need get all the help and support on offer from our Food Poverty Service.
The Dundrum Foodbank closed this month – those who attended the foodbank are linking directly with our caseworkers. Dun Laoghaire Community Café and Foodbank will close at the end of March. This coincides with plans by the local council to redevelop the Eblana Avenue premises and Boylan Centre. From 14th April, the Society of St. Vincent De Paul will take over the operation of the foodbank in Darndale in North East Dublin.
Our caseworkers and café teams are already engaged with those who come to us for food and redirecting them to the casework service. Every family and person in need will continue to receive food from Crosscare.
Our Community Café on Portland Row will continue to provide nutritious, affordable breakfasts and lunches five days a week from 8 am.
We are now actively working to identify other communities in need of this service in the greater Dublin area to extend the offering to families and people in food poverty. We also continue to work closely with St. Vincent de Paul to ensure no one struggling is without the vital support they need.
If you or someone you know is struggling with food poverty, please get in touch with our Food Poverty Caseworkers at:
Email: foodcaseworkservice@crosscare.ie
Ph: 01-8913022
