We welcomed Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, to our Portland Row café this afternoon.
The Minister and his team heard directly from our caseworkers and community food team about the great need for food and support in our communities.
Crosscare opened Ireland’s first food bank in the 1980s. By the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Crosscare operated community cafés and multiple food banks throughout Dublin. However, recognising the limitations of food handouts, we decided to shift towards a more supportive approach.
After studying different food support models, we believe the best approach for Crosscare is to offer Food and Support work in a community café. In this way, people receive free food while accessing casework support to help them regain financial independence.
Last year alone, we supported over 3,000 families and individuals. The highest cohort was those with a disability allowance, followed by a one-parent family payment. The high cost of living is the most common reason people tell us they came to our service.
Key Features of Our Approach:
- Clients choose their food rather than receiving pre-packed parcels.
- Casework support is available to help address the root causes of food poverty.
- We aim for short-term support, assisting people to return to regular shopping as soon as possible.
- There is no strict time limit—some may need support for a few weeks, and others may need it for over a year.
- Community Food and Support is most effective within a Crosscare community café, allowing people to transition smoothly between hot meals and food support services.
We are working to expand Community Food and Support by improving the service at Portland Row, Dublin 1 and expanding to other areas. Our focus is on short-term assistance with a clear path to financial independence.
We continue to seek financial and infrastructural support to enhance our impact and help more people move out of food poverty with dignity.
If you or anyone you know needs food support, please get in touch with our service Email: food@crosscare.ie or phone 01-8913022
