Group don’t have enough food to give out to homeless
By Maurice Garvey
LAST year, homeless activist Dave Moore took part in a 24-hour sleepout outside the GPO, but this year’s sleepout will be in Clondalkin, with Moore citing an issue that is getting worse locally.
Through his weekly stalls held in Clondalkin Village to assist homeless people, Moore has become accustomed to meeting people directly affected by poverty.
David Moore with volunteers Barbara Butryn, her daughter and Tony Kelly at the weekly
“We have the stand between 8pm to 9pm. It depends on the night, we could have between one person to 15 people coming up to us. After that, we go to Lucan Village to feed a homeless lad, then there is a Polish lad in Willsbrook Park, and we hand out stuff to the lads tapping up people at the garages.
"Anything we have left, we drop it off to families in need.”
“One couple from Scotland are sleeping rough beside the church in Bawnogue. They were getting hassled by youths and had their tent robbed. But tonight (Tuesday) a lady is coming to the stall to donate four sleeping bags and a tent.
"I asked the couple if they would be better off back in Scotland, as they have no PPS number, but they said it is worse there. The other night, we had a couple with a baby at the stall, and we gave them hot food. The problem is we just don’t have enough to give out.”
On Friday, November 30, Moore and a few other volunteers will brave the cold in sleeping bags outside South Dublin County Council’s civic offices, from 10am to 10am the next morning.
“We want to highlight the problem in the area,” said Moore, who organised the Clondalkin and Lucan Homeless Hub with his partner, Councillor Ruth Nolan.
“We have launched a show box appeal for people to donate this on the day. They can put in a toy for children, put the age of the child it is intended for on the outside of the box.
“Stuff for adults can also be donated in boxes. We will then donate the boxes to families living in hotels in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown B&B.”
