Model food bank will become template for banks across Europe
By Maurice Garvey
A MODEL food bank inspected by EU officials, is set to become a template for food banks across Europe.
The St Vincent de Paul food bank in Cherry Orchard Community Centre, has been in operation since September 2017, and provides support for up to 150 families a week.
Volunteer Barbara Corry at the food bank. Photo by Paddy Barrett
However, it is the “dignified” manner in which it is operated, which has caught the eye of Brussels.
Recipients collect a shopping bag full of goods discreetly inside the Orchard Community Centre, whilst having a cup of tea and a chat in the café.
The food bank also links up with home school liason officers in all Ballyfermot schools, who in turn, collect and redistribute parcels to parents at their respective schools, rather than forcing them to queue up publicly.
The initiative was established by SVP Ballyfermot/Clondalkin Manager Marie Cronin, who has been involved in distributing food to families living under the poverty line for up to 30 years.
More dignified
“I didn’t want it to be like the 1950s and 60s with people queueing up on the road, I wanted it to be more dignified,” said Marie.
Ms Cronin has been working on the plan for five years, and says she has managed to receive backing from Dublin City Council, the Department of Social Protection, and community groups like Mabs 10&20, and the Ballyfermot Chapelizod Partnership.
“DCC knew exactly what I needed. They got me a space, a manual forklift and driver to move the pallets, and a space to hold and distribute the food. Without the council, this wouldn’t have got off the ground.”
Prior to this, Marie approached to Dept of SP, enquiring about a surplus food grant from the EU, and was supported with goods for the food bank.
“The EU were doing a food audit on the surplus food scheme, and Minister Regina Doherty recommended they come out to visit the Cherry Orchard food bank,” said Marie.
Great concept
“They visited it six weeks ago and thought it was a great concept, especially the discreet nature of the scheme. They said they would use our food bank as a template across the EU.”
Up to 90 families avail of food packages every Friday in the Orchard Centre, and another 50/60 benefit via home liason school officers, and minibus deliveries courtesy of Pat Cullen, from Cherry Orchard Boxing Club.
“We really need to expand this,” said Marie.
“We can’t find a suitable place in lower Ballyfermot, and we are also looking to open a place in Clondalkin, near the village.
“I asked the Department for non-branded items, which are lower in sugar. In Cherry Orchard, there are high levels of diabetes. People like the stuff we have given them.”
CE scheme workers help distribute food at the Orchard Centre, although it has to be a SVP worker handing over food to recipients, and SVP handle all the paperwork involved in the scheme.
The local SVP branch is also starting to build relationships with families in the community and help them out with other issues that may be affecting them.
“There are 2,000 people in Cherry Orchard and 1,000 on our books,” said Marie.
“There are ten of us in the SVP area, two have to visit each person, but this means that they are waiting for us to call.”
