Food parcels prepared by the Redemptorists in Limerick are being distributed by the St Vincent de Paul society to 8,000 families in the region this week. Father Gerry Daly, director of the Redemptorist Poor Campaign, said the order had been making up food parcels for distribution for 16 years.
In that time, the numbers of families in need of the parcels had remained about the same. They are families with members who are unemployed, elderly, disabled or ill, or who may be struggling with a mortgage. "The Celtic Tiger has not meant that much to these people," he said.
The parcels have 14 basic items including chicken, bacon, porridge oatlets, jam, butter, sugar and tea. Lists of families are forwarded to the order from the parishes in the region and by the St Vincent de Paul society. "It is a tradition in Limerick. It goes on right throughout the year. We look after 300 families every week in the city," he said.
About £70,000 is raised through a sponsored walk, card games and coffee mornings to pay for the parcels and for other essential items, such as coal and electricity. "The response has been great as usual from the people of Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and Cork," Father Daly said.
The Mayor of Limerick, Cllr John Ryan, said the scale of poverty was shocking. "The hope that those parcels bring is far greater than people realise."
Families were doing without necessities to pay for Christmas items. "People do not have the resources to meet what is really an expensive time of year," he said.
Limerick Corporation has issued 1,500 bags of coal as part of the mayor's coal fund initiative.