Clondalkin food bank open and ready to help those in need

Clondalkin Helping Homeless and St Vincent De Paul have come together to establish a food bank for the local area.

Thanks to the new partnership, the food bank will be open every Tuesday from 11-1pm in the Bawnogue Youth and Community Centre with all recipients vetted by SVP beforehand.

Clondalkin Helping Homeless founder Cllr Francis Timmons and Mayor Ed O’Brien officially opened the new food bank recently.

Speaking following the offical opening, Cllr Timmons said the recent pandemic has taught a very important lesson.

“Covid 19 has highlighted the need to be prepared for any emergencies and the Clondalkin Foodbank will ensure we have a stock of food available for those in need,” he said.

“We look forward to working with St Vincent De Paul to ensure those in need get the help they need.

“The Foodbank will be run in such a manner that people must contact the St Vincent De Paul before they arrive and the St Vincent De Paul will send a list every Monday and we will prepare a food Bag for the person on the list.

“Bawnogue Youth and Community Centre have kindly donated space to have the Food Bank that will serve the Clondalkin area.

“Since I set up Clondalkin helping Homeless in 2014 the service has evolved to assist those most in need in our community, FoodCloud services will continue as is but the Foodbank service will allow for collection of food as agreed.’

“You must ring the food bank helpline to ensure your name is on the list.

“Unfortunately, we cannot help anyone who has not been approved.

“We also ask that people bring their own bags to bring food away in.”

For anyone who needs to use this food bank, they must ring the helpline on 087 7618586 with their name and address.

They will then be assessed by their local SVP to be approved for this food bank.