Smart move by restaurants to help the homeless services
By Mary Dennehy
A TALLAGHT company has given its support to a new charitable movement which has teamed up with some of the city’s top restaurants in an attempt to dish up more than €50,000 to homeless services – with eateries across South Dublin County invited to join the mix.
Ballymount-based company Brandit Promotional Products has put its weight behind a new movement called StreetSmart, which has partnered up with more than 20 restaurants in a bid to raise money for Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust.
During November and December, diners who eat in participating restaurants will see a voluntary donation of €2, per table, added to their bill – a donation which they can chose to give, or not, with 100 per cent of all donations going directly to the two chosen charities.
To date, more than 20 restaurants are participating, with well-known chefs Nick Munier and Dylan McGrath on board alongside high-end eateries such as Coppinger Row, Fade Street Social, Locks, Diep le Shaker and Darwin’s – with local restaurants across areas such as Tallaght, Clondalkin, Rathfarnham, Templeogue, Lucan and Saggart all encouraged to come on board.
Tallaght resident Gavin Gannon, who runs Brandit Promotional Products with Damien Behan from Templeogue and Shane Crossan, Springfield, told The Echo: “We expanded dramatically in the last two years and moved to a new building and doubled our staff from three to six.
“We were looking for a way to keep the positivity going and also to give something back, and StreetSmart was a perfect fit.
“We met with Brian Cuddy, who is the founder of StreetSmart Ireland, and we really liked him and what the charity was all about, so we are helping with all the printing and promotional costs.”
He added: “Sometimes the smaller charities don’t get as much exposure as the bigger ones even if they can make a huge difference.
“Street Smart has the potential to make a big difference to homeless people this winter, especially with 100 per cent of what’s raised going to the chosen charities.”
Living in Rathmines, Street Smart Ireland founder Brian Cuddy told The Echo that he is hoping to build a community of restaurants that will bring the hospitality sector together to provide meals and other supports to the homeless.
He said: “StreetSmart is trying to provide one meal at a time and the €2 donation per table is totally voluntary, there is no pressure on anybody to contribute.
“We are aiming to raise €50,000 through the campaign, but I feel with the restaurants on board that we could smash our goal – and hopefully there are other restaurants out there that will get in touch over the coming weeks.”
For further information or to get involved visit www.streetsmartireland.org.
