Hampers of hope: ‘Limerick has the greatest concentration of poverty’ in Ireland

FOR ITS 50th anniversary, the Redemptorist Christmas Hamper Appeal returns in a bid “to have food on every table” in Limerick this Christmas.

Since the Redemptorists started the initiative in 1972, Fr Seamus Enright estimates that around 300,000 Christmas hampers have been distributed to the people of Limerick.

“We’re conscious that there's a lot of poverty in the city. Limerick has the greatest concentration of poverty in Ireland by all the different measures that the government uses,” commented Fr Enright.

For the Redemptorists, the aim has always been simple – to have food on every table for Christmas. Last year, they distributed 6,000 hampers to Limerick households.

“We distributed 6,000 hampers last year, right at a cost of a little bit more than €180,000, it's a lot of money to raise. And this year, the demand is up significantly, so we think it'll be almost 7,000 hampers. And of course, the cost of food has gone up as well because of the cost of living crisis”, said Fr Enright.

Limerick might have the greatest concentration of poverty in Ireland, but it also has the second-greatest concentration of affluence in the country. Fr Enright finds it hard to believe that in a country as prosperous as Ireland, people still go hungry.

“It’s scandalous that the demand is so high. Children go to school hungry in the morning, and people go to bed hungry at night and next week. Now that the weather is very cold, some old people will have to decide if they will have their lunch or if they will keep the heating on,” he commented.

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In their bid to help people struggling with difficult situations, each Christmas The Redemptorists raise funds to buy food.

“We work with about 40 different organisations across the city and the county to distribute the hampers. People can donate money, but they can also give food, although we prefer money, so that every hamper gets the same amount of food.”

Speaking of a minority of families that struggle with addiction problems, he commented: “For all kinds of reasons, some parents have alcohol addiction problems and drug addiction problems, and sometimes there might be no food in the house, so at least we send food to the house. And even if that's all the children have, at least they’ll have that.”

Fr Enright and friends will  be collecting donations for the Christmas Hampers Appeal  at Dunnes in the Jetland Shopping Centre on December 23.

The hampers donation centre will be open at the Redemptorist Church from Monday to Saturday, between 9:30am and 4pm.