Community Centre open for families during bad weather
By Maurice Garvey
RESIDENTS and families who need a safe and warm facility on Thursday and Friday night (February 28-March 1) are encouraged to drop by the Cherry Orchard Community Centre, reports Maurice Garvey.
With Storm Emma causing havoc across the city, the Orchard Community Centre will open its doors on Thursday and Friday night from 10pm to 8.30am - heat and refreshments provided by staff and volunteers.
“We have no idea if we’ll get one person or if we’ll get 10 families, who have their heating banjaxed,” said David O’Donovan, Cherry Orchard Project Manager, Dublin City Council.
“We are spending a few bob because we would rather have this in place for people who need it.”
The Orchard Centre have linked in with Vincent de Paul, Dublin Fire Brigade and the Dublin Housing Executive, in an effort to ensure vulnerable people can seek safe shelter during the storm.
O’Donovan will begin a 48-hour shift on Thursday morning, to monitor the situation over the next couple of days.
He continued: “We’ve let the other charities know what we are doing. Maybe a family that uses Simon can’t access shelter and need a place. Local volunteers are on board. We will be happy to provide heat and refreshments to those who present themselves at the times above.
“Is someone turns up at 8pm, we won’t turn them away. Likewise, if they don’t want to leave at 8.30am, they can stay.”
Another local responding to the storm is Pat Cullen from Cherry Orchard Boxing Club, who will use his mini-bus to help elderly people leave their house.
“He can pick them up and drop them to the centre,” said O’Donovan.
“We are using local resources, Kavanaghs providing us with fleece blankets.”
O’Donovan appealed for residents, to spread word about the out of hours service for people and families in need.
