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Linda Ledger, Manager St Munchins Community Centre Manager pictured above with one of the makeshift beds offered to Ukrainians fleeing the war Linda Ledger, Manager St Munchins Community Centre Manager pictured above with one of the makeshift beds offered to Ukrainians fleeing the war

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Help support St Munchins Community Centre Ukraine Evacuation Hub

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3 years ago

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St Munchins Ukraine Hub  – Linda Ledger, Manager St Munchins Community Centre Manager pictured above with one of the makeshift beds offered to Ukrainians fleeing the war

The Kileely centre’s St Leila’s Age-Friendly Education Campus has seen its classrooms repurposed as dormitories

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew 

St Munchin's Community Centre's Ukraine Evacuation Hub is based in St Leila's Age-Friendly Education Campus.
St Munchin’s Community Centre’s Ukraine Evacuation Hub is based in St Leila’s Age-Friendly Education Campus.

St Munchin’s Community Centre has been transformed into an emergency evacuation centre for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the ongoing war.


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The Kileely centre’s St Leila’s Age-Friendly Education Campus has seen its classrooms repurposed as dormitories, complete with makeshift fold-up beds. 

Last Friday, local authorities informed St. Munchin’s Centre Manager Linda Ledger that the campus was suitable for repurposing as a short term Emergency Central Hub for Ukrainian refugees. Within hours, all classrooms had been converted into sleeping areas – however, there are no communal areas or showers.

“These people have come here with nothing and have to share this space with complete strangers,” commented centre manager Linda Ledger. 

“We are feeding them and have bought clothing and essentials without any funding from anywhere.”

To help with the costs of sheltering those fleeing Ukraine, St Munchin’s Community Centre has switched the aim of their existing ‘Meals on Wheels / Covid’ GoFundMe page to one that will generate funds to help accommodate Ukrainian arrivals. The centre has decided to use the existing fundraiser as it can take several days for a new GoFundMe page to be verified and approved by the site. 

“Money raised prior to our GoFundMe fundraiser’s change of direction, €20,000, has been spent on the most vulnerable people in Limerick throughout the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years. Any monies donated from Monday, April 4, will go towards the St Munchins Community Centre Ukraine Evacuation Hub,” confirmed Ms Ledger.

The community centre, which has played an active role in promoting and developing community involvement in Kileely since 2005, has been offered two ‘modular units’ to house additional Ukrainian arrivals for a reduced cost of €32,000. 

“We need to raise funds to help pay for these units. Many people fleeing Ukraine have lost all possessions and family. They are tired, scared and worried about what will happen and where they are going,” said Ms Ledger.

To donate to St Munchins Community Centre Ukraine Evacuation Hub go HERE 

For more stories on St. Munchin’s Community Centre go HERE

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