With many struggling to make ends meet during the current cost of living crisis, we spoke with the dedicated volunteers who make sure there’s food on the table for hundreds of families across Cork.
Saint Vincent DePaul (SVP) has been a lifeline for many families in recent months, and they’ve just come out of an incredibly busy festive season.
While the distribution hub we visited on the northside of Cork city typically delivers to about 300 families a week, SVP sent out more than 2,500 hampers in the ten days leading up to Christmas.
Kate has been volunteering with the charity for more than ten years and describes how food poverty can be a social problem hidden in plain sight.
Kate Durrant
Kate told CorkBeo: “From our food warehouse, each week, we feed between two and three hundred families in Cork that are living in food poverty.
”It could be you; it could be your neighbour, it’s a hidden thing – people say to us: ‘You deliver to houses with a car in the driveway’ – having a car in the drive doesn’t mean you have food to put on the table for your children.
“Food is one of the few things you can cut corners on and it can have among the most detrimental effects, especially on young children.”
Kate showed us how the teams prepare the packages for delivery and explained that each hamper is nutritionally balanced to ensure that families receive the nourishment they need.
Much of the food in the hamper is also easy to prepare, which allows children to put together basic meals for themselves if a parent is ill or otherwise incapable of cooking for themselves.
Kate continued, “On a normal week, we have a strict list of things that go in so when families get our hampers in the door, they know what they can rely on getting.
“We work really hard to ensure that the hampers are nutritionally balanced because food poverty can have life-changing impacts, particularly for the very young and the very old. We cater for people who are vegan or vegetarian, and we work to accommodate all sorts of illnesses that limit people’s diets.
“We also make sure you have things like tea, coffee and sugar. You may not think of the importance of having those in the house, as poverty can be very isolating, but with these, when someone knocks on your door, you can invite them in for a cup of tea.”
The warehouse itself is a sight to behold, with well-organised shelves stacked high. The volunteers work together like a well-oiled machine to ensure that as many families as possible are fed each week.
SVP Driver John McGregor
The charity’s drivers also serve as important community contacts. John, who has been volunteering with SVP for more than a decade, told us about one visit that really drove home the importance of the charity’s work.
He said: “Before the pandemic, we used to go into the houses and unpack the hampers, which gave you better knowledge of the people you’re working with.
“One time I went into a house and a child came out, very happy and bubbly, they were just delighted to see food come in the door.
“She helped put the food away, and when she turned and opened the door of the fridge, there was actually nothing in there, and I mean nothing. So what we had brought would be all the family had for that week. They were totally reliant on it.”
On the day of our visit, 62 hampers were due to be delivered, and the charity provides more than food. SVP also works to provide household essentials like shampoo, mouthwash, and other basic hygiene products that some families might struggle to afford.
Warehouse manager Annette Butler
Warehouse manager Annette Butler took us through some of the products the charity is sending out.
She said: “We were lucky enough this year to give out these lovely ‘self-care’ hampers along with our Christmas food hampers. We have beautiful products from brands like Aveeno and Johnson & Johnson.
“People were delighted with them; they were thrilled, especially with things like the Aveeno range. They’re so expensive to buy, and getting that is a treat as not everyone can afford it.”
The hampers are delivered directly to the families in unmarked vans, much in the same way supermarkets deliver people’s shopping. The volunteers do all they can to ensure the discretion and dignity of those who need a helping hand.
If you feel you need help, you can contact SVP on 021 427 0444 or visit the charity’s website here.
If you’d like to contribute to their efforts you can donate directly on their website or buy a ticket in their annual car draw if you fancy a chance at winning a new Ford Focus. You can find further information on the draw here.