Crosscare is appealing for help for families in need of food this Christmas.
Crosscare operates community food banks and cafés in Dublin, and more and more people are coming to them for help with essential food support, including many families with young children. Before the Pandemic, Crosscare held a food drive in Dublin parishes, but this has been suspended for a second year due to Covid restrictions. For December, Crosscare is appealing to people to donate online to continue their vital work with families in need.
Last year alone, 15,000 parcels of food and household goods were given out through Crosscare’s Community Foodbanks. Their Community Cafés in Portland Row and Dun Laoghaire served 14,000 meals to people who needed nutritious food.
As well as providing immediate support through foodbanks and cafés, Crosscare has put in place a new Food Poverty Case Work Service dedicated to achieving long term sustainable outcomes for people living in food poverty.
Joy Walsh is the new Food Services Support worker with Crosscare. Joy meets with people and families who come to Crosscare needing food, works with them to find out what led them to this situation and helps them find the support they need to provide for themselves.
“People I am meeting have found themselves in food poverty for many reasons; they are recently unemployed, in some cases, a family member has become ill. Others are lone-parent families or families with older children who are finding it hard to cope – most of them have never had to rely on a food bank before. Still, when their circumstances suddenly change, they discover how precarious their situation is,” said Joy. “We can help them with budgeting and making good food choices. We are also able to link in what other Crosscare services such as housing and welfare. We want people who come to us to regain their independence and dignity and the means to support themselves and their children. ”
Read FlyerYou can donate to the Crosscare Food for Families Appeal online at www.crosscare.ie/donate
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