UPDATE: Limerick communities are using kindness to fight the Coronavirus

Pictured are staff of St Munchins with dinner boxes donated to the centre by Limerick Thomond Rotary Club for their ‘Meals on Wheels’ service, which is in full swing during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

UPDATE: Limerick communities are using kindness to fight the Coronavirus 

By I Love Limerick correspondents Sophia DiBattista and Mary Doyle

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Linda Ledger pictured working hard in the kitchen at St Munchins with chef Christy O’Brien. Picture: Leon Ledger

The Coronavirus is frightening everyone all over the world, but despite the terror, Limerick is coming together to help the elderly, the ill and those who need assistance. With efforts from St. Munchins Community Centre, St Mary’s Aid and the Midwest Simon Community, to name a few, there is no doubt that the people of Limerick will stick together and weather this storm. With growing concerns surrounding the Covid-19 Pandemic, community services like this are needed now more than ever.

Local charities and organisations such as these must be supported and donated to where possible, so they can continue the wonderful work that they do, looking after our fellow civilians who are in need. 

St. Munchins Community Centre in Kileely, Co. Limerick, is a non-profit organisation that, since its establishment in 2005, has not only provided a central community hub, but has also offered a very valuable service to the people of Limerick, with their ‘Meals on Wheels’ scheme. St. Munchins Community Centre are taking all the necessary measures, following government guidelines and HSE advice, to ensure the safety and health of both its customers and workers during this time, as they continue this wonderful door-to-door service which helps hundreds of people every day. With the continued support and funding by FÁS Limerick City Council, the HSE, as well as the selfless volunteers who offer their time to make the service possible, ‘Meals on Wheels’ continues to thrive.

Speaking about the Meals on Wheels service, Linda Ledger, St Munchins Community Centre manager, said, “We wanted to address isolation and social exclusion for the older members of our community. I’m so passionate about it because it is a way of being able to check in on people to see if they are okay. I know we are making a huge difference because the amount of people who are isolated and need our service is increasing all the time. Now, we’ve taken every precaution we can, so my biggest fear is that if we are told to close, who is going to feed the most vulnerable if they are isolating?”

Donations have come from multiple organisations, such as the Limerick Thomond Rotary Club. They showed their support to the ‘Meals on Wheels’ scheme by donating multiple dinner boxes to the St. Munchins Community Centre. The boxes will aid in the increased demand for dinners to be delivered to the vulnerable people of Limerick due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Linda also called out to any businesses who would like to donate by saying, “Any pubs/restaurants/businesses that want to donate, everything is welcome. This is a hard time, but we will get through this.”

Recently, St. Munchins has received bags of popcorn and Easter eggs from Vue Cinema. These have made their way to ADAPT House for the kids who are stuck at home. The newly opened Spitjacks restaurant, and the Buttery in Bedford Row have also given food to St Munchins Community Centre.

“We need assistance to help feed Limerick and our surrounding areas, every little goes a long way and we thank you for your continuous support throughout these hard times. It is through donations and communities working together that we will get through this difficult time.” Linda added.

St. Munchins ‘Meals on Wheels’ service caters to the most vulnerable people in Limerick, delivering a hot meal and dessert to their front door for just €4. Contact 061 596011 for more information.

 You can donate to St. Munchins to help keep this wonderful service alive HERE.

TK Maxx made a donation to the Mid West Simon food appeal. Pictured is TK Maxx Manager Cian Wallace

Among other efforts to help the less fortunate during these worrying times, are the Mid West Simon Community, who are continuing their work supporting homeless people in the Midwest. The Simon Community held food banks this week in Limerick city, Ennis and Kilrush, providing well-needed food to hundreds of those in need, all the while abiding by HSE and government guidelines of social distancing and hygiene precautions. 

Sodalicious cafe owner Jane Conlon has made a significant food gift to the Mid West Simon Community, which supports homeless and vulnerable people.

Jane, whose cafe is at the junction of Henry Street and Lower Cecil Street, said she would not have been able to sleep at night if she had not donated perishable food to the Simon Community.​

Efforts were also made by the Simon Community team for food to be brought to those in isolation, who could not attend the food banks themselves.

Jackie Bonfield, CEO of Mid West Simon said, “This is a time for us to be a community and support people who are being affected by this pandemic, whether it is because someone has lost their job, put on shorter hours or self-employed we are here to help with our foodbanks. If people are isolating and do not have access to funds to get shopping dropped to them, they can call us. This is the time that we work together so that hopefully soon we will all be in a better place. We are continuing to ask for donations of food and household items, any amount large or small, that can be distributed in our community.”

You can contact Mid West Simon through Facebook or on 061 608980.

You can donate to the Mid West Simon Community HERE.

St Mary’s Aid continue to deliver hot meals to the doors of vulnerable people across Limerick.

Another one of the organisations fighting against the virus’s threats is St. Mary’s Aid, located on Nicholas Street. They have implemented different methods of assistance to abide by the restrictions which the virus places.

The organisation has taken more measures to promote public safety during this time of crisis through Facebook and their own headquarters. The new layout in their cafe complies with the social distancing regulation, spacing out tables and seats one meter apart.

From Monday through Friday, St. Mary’s will continue their delivery service, sending meals to the doors of those in need. This will occur across Kings Island, Grove Island, Corbally, Lower Park, Shannon Banks and the Dublin Road and Garryowen areas. The meals cost €5 and can be accessed by calling 061 318106. 

In terms of larger companies, Supermacs Ireland has made it their duty to provide free meals to those on the frontline as health workers during this pandemic. Ireland’s most popular fast-food chain has offered their support to members of the emergency services who put their health on the line to treat those affected by the coronavirus.

In a statement issued by Supermacs Ireland, they said, “Supermacs will provide free meals to members of the emergency services in recognition and appreciation of the effort that is being made by each and every one of them at this challenging time.”

Well done to all involved!

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For more information on St Munchins Community Centre, click here.

For more of our stories on the coronavirus, click here.