Finglas banks on helping neighbours

A NEW food bank has opened in Superquinn Finglas to help provide meals for needy locals.

The bank is the brainchild of Finglas Village Renewal (FvR), a community group dedicated to revitalising the traditional heart of the famous Northside suburb.

Members of the group have been touched by some of the hardship stories of food poverty in the area and were keen to try and do something to tackle the problem.

“The FvR steering committee in conversations with a number of community groups in the Finglas area have been seriously moved at the stories that are emerging,

? said FvR spokesperson Sean Mooney.

“There are families that really have none, little or substandard food in their homes and this is not an isolated situation, it’s just hidden.

“The FvR is determined to tackle this problem before the winter.

?

Representatives from FvR approached management at Superquinn with the idea and they agreed to provide space for a container where shoppers can place non-perishable food items.

Volunteers from FvR empty the food bank every evening and store the food which is later distributed to local organisations and community groups who in turn hand them to local families struggling to make ends meet.

“This is one of the first food banks in Ireland,

? said Mr Mooney.

“It’s all over the UK and it’s a big thing in Europe because of food poverty. It hasn’t really happened here yet and I think it’s going to be big.

“It’s a good news story for Finglas. It’s people helping people. It’s the simplest of ideas but those are the ideas that often work best.

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Some of the products collected from the food bank will be donated to local schools to support their breakfast clubs, which were set up to ensure local children get a healthy start to the day.

FvR volunteers are already supporting the breakfast clubs and are hoping the community will back them in their efforts.

“We’re hoping to be able to donate e100 a week to get four clubs up and running immediately and we hope then to be able to supply cereals and bread from the food bank,

? said Mr Mooney.

The FvR said they were grateful to Superquinn for supporting the food bank and are urging locals to donate.

“We’re just asking people to buy an extra product when they’re shopping and put it in the bin,

? Mr Mooney continued.

“It could be just a 90c box of cornflakes or a 50c tin of beans. It’s a community effort, it’s all about neighbours helping neighbours.

?