The Society has provided €332m worth of direct assistance to those in need over the past ten years. And that is largely due to the generosity of Irish people and donations from across the country. Now the Society is calling on Dublin Gazette readers to help once again, if they can.
The figures were announced by National President Rose McGowan at the launch of the SVP Annual Appeal on Sunday last.
This year’s Annual Appeal is focused on providing help to struggling parents who wonder how they will provide a Happy Christmas for their families. The campaign is entitled “The Wonder of Christmas – Will we have Christmas at all?”, a sad indictment of the rising cost of living and financial demands on lower income families and indeed, some middle income earners with crippling mortgages, university fees, etc.
Launching this year’s SVP Annual Appeal Rose McGowan said “Our theme this year reflects the questions our volunteers face most regularly and particularly at this time of the year. ‘I wonder how I’m going to afford heating?’, ‘I wonder will I have enough for food and toys?’ Others wonder do the kids know they are struggling? Is it affecting them? They wonder if they will ever get out of this crisis?”
She went on to say, “The calls for help to our offices and local Conferences (Branches) continue to increase. “In 2021 we had a record breaking 191,000 requests. Last year the figure jumped by 20pc to just over 230,000 and this year, we are on track to exceed that number again.”
“According to the latest CSO Survey of Income and Living Conditions there are over 670,000 people at risk of poverty in Ireland, almost 875,000 people experienced enforced deprivation and went without essentials. Over 265,000 live in consistent poverty, that’s horrendous.
“Despite the additional cost-of-living support payments made by the Government, there are many people who continue to struggle to meet basic family expenses and Christmas makes it more difficult, unbearable.
“Those hardest hit include one parent-families, low-income workers; households on fixed social welfare incomes; low-income households in rural areas; people with disabilities and their carers. That is why we are asking Dublin people to make donations to help families pay for food, heat their homes and ensure their children get a decent Christmas.“
You can donate online at svp.ie and nominate your local area
Phone: 0818 176 176 (ROI) or 028 9075 0161 (NI) and nominate your local area
Post to SVP, PO Box 1234, D 1, cheques made payable to ‘Society of St. Vincent de Paul’ or direct to a regional office, addresses can be found on www.svp.ie.
Blue envelopes: Keep an eye out for special blue envelopes in newspapers, churches and delivered to homes throughout the country.
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