Community Call receives 2,269 calls in ten months
By Mary Dennehy
MORE than 2,200 calls were made to the South Dublin County Community Call helpline in the past ten months, with the service still open for anyone in need of support.
Community Call is a forum of local supports, groups and organisations that together help with the delivery of food, medication, fuel or other household items.
Garda Derek O’Brien shopping
The forum is also there for anybody feeling isolated and in need of a chat, or engagement with a local service.
Led by South Dublin County Council, the forum is made up of a number of community supports including An Garda Siochana, the HSE, Dublin GAA, Alone, South Dublin County Partnership, Tusla and more.
According to figures released by the council this week, a total of 2,269 calls were made to the community helpline between March 30 and January 17.
Among the calls received, 838 were connected with the collection and delivery of food, fuel and medication right across South Dublin County area by community gardai.
An additional 87 calls for the collection and delivery of medication were responded to by the South Dublin County Partnership.
Tallaght Garda Tara Higgins making a delivery
Some 482 calls were made in relation to medical/health needs and 107 were connected to social isolation, supports and engagement.
More than 50 calls were made seeking help with transport to community testing centres while 174 were connected with social welfare, business and pension supports.
Some 183 calls were from members of the public seeking to volunteer, with an additional 98 calls made by organisations looking for and sharing information.
According to the council, calls to the helpline are directed to a number of support organisations, with calls in relation to the collection and delivery of shopping, prescriptions and fuel directed to community gardai.
Calls in relation to social isolation, supports and engagement are directed to befriending services, such as Alone, Aware, Barnardos and Carers Support.
Food banks, St Vincent De Paul and Meals on Wheels respond to calls connected to the collection and delivery of meals.
Other medical and health needs are directed to the HSE helpline, St Vincent De Paul, Women’s Aid, Saoirse Women’s Refuge and the Samaritans, among others.
The Local Welfare Office and Revenue have helped with queries, while volunteers registered with the South Dublin Volunteer Centre and a number of local GAA clubs also helped out with the delivery and collection of shopping.
The free helpline is open from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, and is open to any person living across South Dublin County in need of support.
The help desk is there for anybody in need of practical support or someone to talk to.
Call the free Community Call helpline number on 1800 240 519 or email covidsupport@sdublincoco.ie.
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