ALONE seeks a hand for Holiday campaign

NORTHSIDERS are
being urged to support a charity’s festive campaign to make sure their elderly
neighbours are safe and sound over the holidays.

ALONE supports
vulnerable older persons in the community and is asking locals to support their
work during the winter months and check on older neighbours or family members
who may be in need of assistance.

Its

‘Some of us
Need a Hand’ campaign was launched in Dublin earlier this month at a
three-metre long hand sculpture by artist Linda Brunker.

ALONE works on
the ground with over 330 older people every day to provide them with support.
During the Christmas period volunteers will distribute food hampers to 500
older people in need.

On Christmas
Day, the volunteers brought hot dinners to older people living on their own,
and 180 people attended the ALONE Christmas social dinner dance, a vital social
outlet for service users.

Seamus
Moynihan, chief executive of ALONE, said they very much hope that the public
will get behind the campaign and support their work over the festive season,
and through the winter months.

“We are asking
people to spend some time supporting anybody in their community who might be at
risk of isolation,

? stated Mr Moynihan.

“The number of
calls we received during the extreme winter conditions last year was
overwhelming, and we found older people in severely distressing conditions.

“Our aim is to
ensure that we respond to every call for assistance swiftly, but as the number
of calls increases, we find it more and more difficult to do so.

?

Mr Moynihan
added:

“We always find our resources stretched to the maximum each winter.
Therefore, the support of the public is critical to us.

?

Anne, an
86-year-old woman who benefits from the services of ALONE, said:

“I live on my
own and I often find it difficult to get around, particularly in winter.

“It’s always a
struggle for me to make sure that I keep the house warm, and it can get lonely
sometimes, so I always really look forward to when my ALONE volunteer arrives
each week.

“We spend a
couple of hours talking about how I got on during the week, and she fills me in
on what she’s been doing, and checks that everything is okay with my health,
and with the house.

?

Anne added:

“It’s my favourite time of the week; it always gives me a lift.

?

?¢ For more
information on ALONE, visit www.alone.ie or call 01-6791032.