Helping Hand still accepting donations for families in need this Christmas

THERE was a strong showing of community spirit in recent weeks, with many locals donating to a food collection on the top-floor car park of The Square Shopping Centre.

The food drive was held by Killinarden-based community group A Helping Hand, who parked a double-decker bus in the car park on December 9 and December 16 and encouraged people to fill it.

The group received a bounty of food items and toys that were generously donated, but the group is down on donations compared to previous years – most likely due to the cost-of-living crisis.

The founder of A Helping Hand, Cllr Dermot Richardson (Ind), told The Echo: “It went well, but it was slow.

“It’s not like previous years, but that’s just the way it is – it seems to be that way across the spectrum, everyone’s struggling, and it seems to be getting worse.

“The cost of living has gone up so high, but we’re still upbeat and we have enough to give out to everyone on our list.”

There are currently 600 people, primarily families, who are on A Helping Hand’s list to receive food hampers this Christmas.

While there is enough to cover the hampers for those families, the group expects to receive more requests for help in the run-up to Christmas, despite donations being down.

“The amount of donations is similar to last year, but it is down on last year,” added Cllr Richardson, “not just the bus, but other donations.

“Most people don’t have it to give to us. A lot of people, with the cost of bills going up, can’t donate as much as before, but we’ll do what we can.”

A Helping Hand is still accepting donations of new items such as hats, gloves, scarves, toys and gifts, and tinned foods, sweets and supermarket vouchers.

For more information and to donate, contact A Helping Hand directly on their Facebook page titled A Helping Hand Dublin/Good Morning Tallaght.

Donations and requests for assistance can also be made by contacting Katrina O’Hara on 087 433 5504, or Cllr Dermot Richardson on 087 203 6468.

When asked what message he wanted to give to people who have already donated, Cllr Richardson said: “Only for the people that give us donations, we wouldn’t be able to do it.

“We’ll be working on Christmas Eve, probably up until six o’clock, and people are always happy to get stuff, no matter how small or big it is.

“People are so thankful because, without it, they wouldn’t have a nice Christmas.

“We try and give as much as we can, depending on the size of the families.”