Community
Northside FRC quickly adapts to ensure the needs of Limerick Communities are met
Northside FRC crew Ellen Brock and James O’Connor pictured above. The Northside Meals on Wheels delivery service has been scaled up 50% to cope with the impact of COVID-19.
Northside FRC quickly adapts to ensure the needs of Limerick Communities are met
Since Leo Varadkar announced school and childcare closures on the 12th of March, the team at Northside Family Resource Centre in Ballynanty has worked tirelessly to adapt their service to meet the new needs of the most vulnerable in the community.
Scaling up their meals on wheels service overnight by almost 50%, with more meals being added daily, the team is ensuring that older people and those cocooning are delivered a freshly prepared meal and dessert six days per week.
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
The now-closed Sunshine Creche, which had catered for over 200 children from 150 families, has been transformed into a food bank thanks to the generosity of the Simon Community, and many other local businesses. This foodbank is a much-needed resource, providing a basic supply of dried goods for those who are struggling to meet the new household demands. With high demand, and stocks running low, the team are constantly working to secure new donations and are uncertain about how much longer they can sustain this much-needed service.
John O’Brien plates up one of many meals ready for distribution.
The Afterschool service, which previously catered for over 60 children have worked to ensure that the children who attended their service received Easter activity packs, filled with arts and crafts materials, helping to boost their self-esteem, whilst keeping the boredom away.
With over 60 employees of the service temporarily laid off due to COVID-19, the Northside FRC centre has been forced to scale back to just 14 workers, working around the clock to keep the doors open; providing phone support, meals on wheels, parenting advice, daily friendly phone call service for older people, remote counselling and much more.
Northside FRC has recently become part of the COVID-19 Community Response team providing practical support to those who need it most during the pandemic from prescription and pension collection to emergency mental health support.
Northside Family Resource Centre is part of a wider network of Meals on wheels providers across Limerick City, and a member of the National FRC programme.
Ciara Kane CEO Northside Family Resource Centre said, “Our is service is stretched thin as a result of this pandemic, we have gone overnight from a staff of over 70 to a staff of just 14 and requests for support for children, young people, vulnerable families, and older people are growing daily. Without financial support, we simply cannot meet demand. We are, we are seeking any donations either financial or dried food to replenish the food bank. If you can help please contact us. Thank you.”
For more information on Northside FRC, click here
For more stories on Northside FRC, click here
