300 expected for Christmas meal for homeless
By Mary Dennehy
PREPARATIONS for the 5th annual Christmas dinner for the homeless is underway, with members of the community invited to support the event.
The dinner is made possible each year by a huge community effort, with individuals, groups and local businesses ensuring that those in need, alone, sleeping rough or living in homeless hubs, have a special place to go on Christmas Day.
Councillor Dermot Richardson
This year 300 people are expected to attend the event in Kids Zone (formerly Tallaght Adventure World), which not only provides a three-course meal but gifts, warm clothes and practical items like sleeping bags and toiletries.
The team behind the dinner also supports families struggling to provide Christmas at home, and last year helped more than 240 families through the delivery of hampers, toys and vouchers.
Sinn Féin Councillor Dermot Richardson, who is part of the organising team, thanked the community for its ongoing support, adding that: “I’ve always said this is a community event.
“Christmas is a very sad time for people who have nowhere to go, but thanks to the local community we are able to provide this.”
This year, the event is being run under A Helping Hand, a new community-based group established in Tallaght by Cllr Richardson.
Members of the community are invited to support the Christmas dinner by making donations for hampers, such as cereals, tins, tea, coffee, sugar, pasta, rice and biscuits, alongside warm clothes, toys and toiletries.
The donation of vouchers for family hampers are also welcome.
Cllr Richardson stressed that anything left over after Christmas Day will be brought into Brother Kevin in the Capuchin Day Centre, with items also distributed among local projects.
To support the day email ahelpinghanddublin [at] gmail [dot] com or drop into Kids Zone in the Whitestown Business Park.
