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Famous Locals Give Mid West Simon “A Foot in the Door”

Mid West Simon: Pictured are Liam Toland, Dan Goggin, and Will Ryan from the campaign consisting of three 60-second videos.

Famous Locals Give Mid West Simon “A Foot in the Door”

Dan Goggin, Liam Toland and Joy Neville are among many of the well known locals who have collaborated with Mid West Simon on their new online fundraising campaign #AFootInTheDoor.

The campaign consists of three 60-second videos following the locals inside their front doors during self-isolation and aims to raise awareness of those experiencing homelessness and poverty in Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary during Covid-19.


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The videos, which launch on Mid West Simon’s social media this week, ask viewers to please donate what they can to the organisation, which has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to restrictions, the charity’s usual calendar of fundraising activities have ground to a halt, while the demand for services has increased exponentially due to the economic fallout from Covid-19.

Rugby Analyst and Mid West Simon Board Member Liam Toland said: “There has never been a more important time to be at home but for so many in our local community Covid-19 is yet another challenge to the concept that is ‘home’.
 
The food bank, in particular, has come under immense pressure over the past two months. Before Covid-19, Mid-West Simon was providing regular provisions to 7,300 clients. Now, that figure is closer to 8,300.
 
mid west simon

Joy Neville is one of the well-know locals taking part

This has led to an unprecedented demand for Mid-West Simon’s services and we are trying as best we can to expand and adapt to meet the current level of need.

 
Many of the 1,000 new families are finding themselves in food poverty for the first time as they or their partners have lost their jobs, while others are struggling to cope without the meal programmes provided by DEIS schools.
 
We hope that the #AFootInTheDoor campaign will encourage those who can, to please donate to support our colleagues, friends, and neighbours who are struggling at this challenging time.” he said.

Munster Rugby Player and Mid West Simon Ambassador Dan Goggin said: “Having grown up and living in Limerick, I see the ongoing issue of homelessness every day. I’ve seen enough to really recognise the importance of the work that the Simon Community does to help this problem.

“I consider myself very fortunate to have my own home, but I also know that people can experience extremely difficult times, as many of us are during this pandemic.

“With this in mind I couldn’t help but get involved in supporting the magnificent work of the Mid West Simon Community.

“We decided to do this video in the first place because it’s a great idea and an easy way to get people thinking about what privileges some have and some don’t.

“Hopefully making people wonder ‘what if I didn’t have a nice home to go to at a time like this’ will help put things in perspective. Hoping with this, people will want to reach out a bit more and help those who have so little.” he added.

Donations can be made online at midwestsimon.ie or by calling 061 608980.

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.