For the first time
in its recent history, Crosscare is
finding families turning up at their
food centres looking for food to put on
the table at home.
Crosscare is the social care agency of
the Archdiocese in Dublin and has been
helping people who are poor and socially
excluded in Dublin for nearly seventy years.
Among its services, the charity runs
three hot food centres in the city which
concentrate on serving meals to people
who are isolated, elderly or homeless in
their own communities. However, in the
past six months, families have begun
calling regularly at these centres
looking for basic foodstuffs such as
bread, tea and milk.
“People who are poor are suffering the
most in this recession” says Conor
Hickey director of Crosscare, “This
recession is hurting a lot of people but
it is those who are poor who are feeling
the effects the most. Clearly, we are
now dealing with more and more people
who until now were able to provide for
their families.”
Launching Crosscare’s Annual appeal
which will take place at all masses this
weekend the Archbishop of Dublin Dr.
Diarmuid Martin asked all people in the
Diocese to give generously to Sunday’s
collection. He said “it is not just
important that those in most need get
the help they need on a daily basis, but
that they do not become long term
victims of the current recession”.
Conor Hickey said that demand for help
has increased rapidly in Dublin over the
past six months. “It is upsetting to see
families calling to the food centres
looking for food parcels. Our other
services are also seeing an increased
demand for support by those affected by
this current recession. Along with
increasing demand on services, cuts in
state funding are adding to the pressure
“These people who are now in need are
going to seek help from services that
are already overstretched and under
funded.
Mr. Hickey said “Crosscare is determined
that no one who needs help will be
turned away. However, it is becoming
much more difficult as funding cuts are
put in place. For this reason our annual
appeal is more important now than it has
ever been. We really do depend on the
generosity of the public to keep our
services going”.
Crosscare’s collection will take place
at all masses across the Dublin Diocese
this weekend.
Contact: Michael Mc Donagh: Crosscare
087- 6710442
www.crosscare.ie
Article, courtesy Dublin Diocesan Website:
