Dining Room marks milestone in providing food and friendship
Dublin People 30 Aug 2014
VOLUNTEERS at Dun Laoghaire’s Dining Room outreach project are celebrating their first six months providing hot lunches for homeless people, the elderly and those experiencing food poverty and loneliness.
The Dining Room, which is supported by a broad range of churches in the area, provides more than just food though, as volunteers also offer a friendly face, someone to talk to and they treat all who come through the door with respect.
Since the Dining Room first opened on February 24 the numbers coming for lunch between 12 noon and 2pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays have grown steadily.
About 50 volunteers from all walks of life help to run the venture, cooking the food, serving it and cleaning up afterwards.
As much as possible the chefs use fresh ingredients to create the nutritious food. The meals are free to all but those who can give a donation.
The initiative is the brainchild of the Vicar of Christ Church, Dun Laoghaire, the Reverend Ãsa Björk Ã?lafsdóttir.
The need for something like the Dining Room struck her almost as soon as she arrived in Dun Laoghaire in January 2013.
“I started to see the homeless people,
? she said.
“The word got out that there was a new Vicar and people started to come looking for food.
“I always feed people if they are hungry,
? she explained.
“Then I spoke to someone who had started a bus which came to Dun Laoghaire on Monday evenings bringing soup and sandwiches. I went along and started bringing pasta bolognaise but I knew I had to do something more.
?
Reverend �lafsdóttir began to think about opening a drop in centre where they could provide a hot meal at lunchtime for people as well as company and simple human contact.
She hopes that those suffering from addiction might benefit from having full stomachs in the middle of the day.
Having looked into the idea and visited other soup kitchens, Reverend �lafsdóttir began to search for premises in her own area.
She kept coming up against hurdles and eventually asked Christ Church’s Select Vestry if she could use the Church Hall at lunchtimes when it was not booked for other activities.
They readily agreed so for three lunchtimes a week it is transformed into a bright cheery place for people to come and dine. They are feeding up to 40 people each lunchtime.
Reverend �lafsdóttir says she always wears her clerical collar when in the Dining Room because she wants people to know that they are in a Christian environment.
“I don’t discuss religion with people unless they start the conversation and even then I am really careful,
? she explained.
“God comes to us where we are. This is about putting the Gospel into practice.
?
They also take donations of second hand clothes and underwear which clients can take away to wear themselves.
Many of the volunteers have been looking for a way to help their community. Some are unemployed, others are in college and some are people who originally came to the Dining Room as clients.
“People need a purpose in life,
? Reverend �lafsdóttir added.
“They need to feel wanted and needed. So many of the people who come to the Dining Room say they haven’t been addressed by their Christian name for years because they are just a number.
“Now, many say that when they wake up on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings they know they have somewhere to be and something to do and feel more positive.
?
People can help the Dining Room by contributing funds or non perishable food.
They also need clothes, underwear and prayers. To offer support and to find out how to help email Ãsa at [email protected]. There is also a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thediningroomdunlaoghaire and anyone is welcome to drop in.
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