Huge response to food table
WATCH:
By Aideen O'Flaherty
OVER 40 people went to a food table that was set up to provide hot meals for people in need in Tallaght on Monday evening, and the organiser has praised the generosity of the local community.
Aylesbury woman Linda Maritza has been involved in helping homeless people and people in need in the locality for several years, after she began helping a homeless man who sought shelter at her local shopping centre four years ago.
Volunteers at the food table on Monday
Linda then got to know other people in the area who help people who are struggling, including Carole Warren and Mags Gills who help out at a soup run in town, and in recent weeks the trio decided to set up a food table in Tallaght.
The first ‘Sharing is Caring D24’ food table was set up at the walkway between The Square and McDonald’s earlier this month, on March 8, and Linda was surprised at the turn out.
“We were expecting maybe five people, but 22 showed up,” she told The Echo. “And we didn’t want people to think that it was just for the homeless – it’s for anyone in need, even if you just need a coffee or a chat.”
This Monday was the third time the weekly food table was held, and over 40 people attended – far exceeding the expectations of Linda and the other volunteers, Marc Maritza, Sue Tyrrell, Derek Tyrrell, Cian McEvoy, Carole and Mags.
The group asked for donations from local businesses as they started to run out of food, and McDonald’s provided burgers and Peach Tree East donated desserts, while the group also thanked the Muslim community in Lucan who donated biscuits, crisps and water, and Daly’s SuperValu in Aylesbury who provided sandwiches.
Cian McEvoy, Marc Maritza, Linda Maritza, Mags Gills, Carole Warren and Sue Tyrell, committee members of Sharing is Caring D24
People who went to the food table also received toiletries which were donated by other members of the community, and representatives from the Simon Community and a drugs counsellor were also on hand to help people to access services.
“The people who come to the food table absolutely love it,” said Linda. “They know us now, so they come up to us and have a chat with us.
“All the food is always gone at the end of the night.”
Linda added that the group doesn’t look for cash donations, and instead advises people to either donate food or toiletries, or to leave money behind the counter at Carroll Meats in Aylesbury to cover the cost of the meat that the volunteers use for the hot meals at the food table.
“110 per cent, this is how I have to do it,” she added. “I can’t do this on my own – the community is getting us what we need to do this.
“We’re only making the stuff, but the community is getting it for us. Their generosity is outstanding.”
The food table is there for anyone who needs it, and Linda is keen to stress that you don’t have to be homeless to go to them.
“I would always say to people to just drop by,” she said. “You can just walk by the table to see what it’s like and if you just stop, we’ll help you.
“And nobody has to know – it’s completely confidential.”
The food table is every Monday evening from 7pm to 9pm at the walkway between The Square and McDonald’s. For more information, visit the Sharing is Caring D24 Facebook page.
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