LETTERKENNY food bank is this year celebrating 10 years of helping to feed those in need in their community.
In their decade of service, We Care LK Food Bank has grown massively and they now support over 600 families and individuals locally.
“Our objective is, and always has been, to assist disadvantaged families in the area,” said Fintan McGrath, We Care LK Food Bank PRO.
The group of 15 active volunteers are based in a central but discreet building in the centre of the town and are open Tuesdays and Fridays from 12 to 2pm.
“We now support over 600 families or individuals in the area. We operate a voucher system, so each family gets a slot to call in every three weeks,” Fintan added.
Sadly, they said the need for food support in the local community is on the rise. So far this year they have seen a 25 per cent growth in demand.
Community support is a key element of their service. They receive regular donations from both corporates and individuals, including a weekly donation of crates of food from Tesco.
“It is fantastic to see the community in Letterkenny giving their full support to We Care LK Food Bank and the important, vital service we provide. Needless to say, we are also delighted for Tesco’s contribution which really helps us do what we do.
“And, nothing is wasted. Any fresh food we do not use is given to the St. Vincent de Paul,” Fintan said.
While many of the families helped by We Care are locals, they have seen an increase in recent times in the need from refugees from Ukraine, the
Middle East and Africa. We never refuse to give food. No matter where people hail from, we’re happy to help.”
Volunteers at We Care also deliver food parcels to those who cannot make it into the town.
“We have regular trips around the county to elderly people living alone, people with mental health issues, or those who don’t have transport,” Fintan added.
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