WATCH: Thousands of request for help from St Vincent de Paul charity amid cost of living crisis

ON A cold morning, St Vincent de Paul (SVP)  highlighted the importance of the charity at their Mid-West Regional Annual Appeal. 

The appeal took place today, Tuesday, November 21 in Ozanam House on Hartstonge Street. 

This year’s appeal theme was ‘The Wonder of Christmas’, highlighting ‘Christmas is wonderful but many people wonder how they can afford it.’

Launching this year’s appeal, Mid-West Regional President Teresa Ryan said; “Our theme this year reflects the questions our volunteers face most regularly and particularly at this time of the year. They include ‘I wonder how I’m going to afford heating?  I wonder will I’ll have enough for food and toys? I wonder do the kids know we are struggling.  I wonder how it is affecting them. I wonder how we got into this situation.  I wonder If we will ever get us out of it? I wonder if you can help.”

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Thanks to the generous support of the Irish public the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) nationally has provided €332 million worth of direct assistance to those who have sought its help over the past ten years.

With calls for help in the Mid-West already at almost 20,500 to date this year the Society expects calls at the end of this year to well exceed last year’s record of 22,500.

The figures were announced by Teresa at the appeal today saying; “The calls for help to our offices and local conferences continue to increase. Last year the figure jumped by 20% to just over 22,500 and this year we are on track to exceed that number again.”

She went on to say that according to the latest CSO survey of Income and Living Conditions there are over 670,000 people at risk of poverty in Ireland, almost 875,000 people were experiencing enforced deprivation and going without essentials and over 265,000 live in consistent poverty.

Teresa said; “Despite the additional cost-of-living support payments made by the Government, there are many people who continue to struggle to meet basic family expenses. This struggle becomes even more difficult on special occasions such as Christmas.Those hardest hit will include one parent-families, low-income workers; households on fixed social welfare incomes; low-income households in rural areas; people with disabilities and their carers. That is why we are seeking donations to help families pay for food, heat their homes and ensure their children get a decent Christmas.”

Anyone finding themselves in need this Christmas, especially anyone seeking assistance for the first time should phone 061 317327 to have their request processed comfortably in the knowledge that their request will be handled sensitively and confidentially.

Donations can be made at HERE or by phoning - 0818 176 176.