‘Good response’ from families wishing to access food bank

THERE has been a “good response” to the opening of a new food bank, with families experiencing food poverty accessing the service.

The Four Districts Food Bank launched last Thursday for those living in the Rathcoole, Saggart, Newcastle and Brittas areas and people are being encouraged to get in touch if they are in need.

A study conducted by Dr Michael Drew from the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at UCD found that food poverty is a growing issue across the country with an estimated 350,000 people affected nationwide.

This study suggests that food poverty has been exacerbated by Covid-19, with groups already at high risk such as low-income families with children, lone parents, people with disabilities and renters disproportionately affected.

Now, with inflation hitting a 38-year peak and the country plunging into a cost-of-living crisis, people from all different walks of life are being stricken with food poverty.

With this, there has become a reliance on locally operated food banks.

This is what lead to the new food bank being established out of Rathcoole Community Centre to serve the Four Districts area.

“It’s started quite well, we’ve had a good response from people and we’re facilitating a lot of enquiries at the moment,” says Emma McCormack, Director of Rathcoole Community Centre.

“Kids are going back to school at the moment, so there are the costs associated with that, along with an increase in electricity bills again and the cost of living crisis.

“We’d imagine only more will be looking to access the food bank here.”

At the moment, the plan is for food parcels to be distributed from the food bank on the last Thursday of every month, but updates will be issued by Emma McCormack to those interested.

A registration day to secure a food parcel will be held on September 27, 10am to 12 noon at Rathcoole Community Centre.

To arrange a time slot for the registration, recipients are asked to get in touch beforehand.

There is also a need for volunteers to aid in the operation of the Four Districts Food Bank, according to the operators.

Anyone experiencing food poverty and needing to register for a food parcel, or anyone interested in volunteering can contact Emma on 085 188 9070 or email emma.mccormack@rathcoolecommunity.ie