Weekend soup run helping people in need closer to home
By Maurice Garvey
ONE YEAR ago, three women set up a mobile soup run, providing homeless people with a variety of essential goods, which even includes an allocation of one cigarette each.
The Clondalkin Weekend Soup Run was conceived by Lisa Kinsella-Coleman, who was bringing supplies into town for the homeless but realised there were plenty of people in need closer to home.
Roslyn Byrne, Mari-Anne Maughan, and Lisa Kinsella-Coleman
Along with fellow Kilcronan residents Mari-Anne Maughan, Roslyn Byrne, the trio operate the service at three locations in Clondalkin every weekend and on Bank Holiday Mondays.
They also get help from Lisa Howell on occasions, and when some of the women can’t make it, their husbands and family/friends help out.
“It is in connection with Tus Nua on the Nangor Road, lads can access their services during the week, but not on weekends,” said Lisa.
“We start at 7pm at the Lidl carpark on Nangor Road, head to Circle K carpark beside the Ninth Lock between 7.30pm to 8pm, and then to Mill Shopping Centre between 8pm to 8.30pm.”
Over the course of the year, Lisa estimates they have met up to 50 different people.
“Last weekend, we served 10 people on Saturday and eight on Sunday. They know my car by now. We have a range of stuff, most of it we fork out for ourselves, but we have got some donations, and are always looking for dry food goods.
“Usually, we have sandwiches, rolls, tea/coffee, soup, porridge, pasta, pot noodle, crisps, bars, yoghurt, fruit, water, and one cigarette each because they always ask if we have a smoke. With winter coming, we have gloves, hats, scarfs, tents. Barber Lenny Byrne gives them a haircut at Christmas.”
Helping people is rewarding but unfortunately tragedy can strike, and the group were devastated to learn of the death of a young man a few months ago.
Lisa continued: “Bryan passed away and was a lovely lad who came to us. It was very sad there was no recognition in the media. We went to his funeral, and weren’t sure if the family would want us there, but his mother was so happy.
“We were the last people he met on Saturday. His body was found on Wednesday. We assured his mother that he had hot food in his belly. It is disheartening to think people didn’t care, but they did care.”
The women subsequently ran the Women’s Mini Marathon in June in memory of Bryan.
