‘There has never been an effort like it’
Adevelopmentorganisation hopes the community will support and “pay back” local businesses that came to the fore during the COVID-19 health crisis to assist some of the most vulnerable families in these troubled times.
Terry Hyland, CEO with Cavan Local Development Company, paid tribute to the dozens of companies across Cavan that dug deep to help out when the St Bricin’s secondary school food bank initiative was first getting off the ground.
Since its inception in mid-March, when 45 food parcels were packed, demand has grown exponentially, with more than 600 food parcels now being delivered across the county each week through a network of volunteers from Cavan County Council, the Gardaí and Civil Defence.
The food hubs are coordinated by Teach Oscail in Cavan Town, the Focus Family Resource Centre in Killeshandra, the Cootehill Town Team in Cootehill, the Ballinagh Food hub volunteers, the Bailieborough Development Association, the Garda 365 Youth Division and others.
The organisation has now also expanded to providing a Meals on Wheels service, with hundreds of nourishing dinners being delivered countywide.
“I don’t know if there has ever been such a large number of collaborators between community, business, local media, the Gardaí, Cavan County Council and State funded organisations in the delivery of a specific project in this county,” said Mr Hyland.
He praised the wealth of generosity from those who came on board, starting with Tesco Cavan, the first donors, which provided a variety of food three evenings a week.
It wasn’t long before Cullys’ Bakery and Fresh Today from Arvagh joined, the latter donating over 5,000 plastic bags to help pack the items.
Richard Corrigan’s Virginia Park Lodge and Moran’s Megajam in Ballinagh also joined the effort with bags of ready to eat salad, fresh jams, chutneys and pestos.
From there on in, the numbers are quite staggering.
Milkman Michael Sexton delivered over 450 litres of Champion milk and 450lbs of Champion butter each week on behalf of LacPatrick; Pat the Baker in Granard donates 500 loaves of bread each week, McCarren Meats’ bi-weekly donation includes 300 packs of bacon and 250kg of potatoes, while Liffey Meats in Ballyjamesduff factory delivered 250 packs of mincemeat.
And there’s more.
Drumully Boxty’s Paul Farrelly donating large quantities of his award winning boxty on a weekly basis, Margaret Farrelly’s Clonarn Eggs, despite a shortage nationally, donates 1,000 eggs every week; Prior Brothers in Swanlinbar over one tonne of vegetables; ambient food from Aldi and the Cavan Centre in Ballyjamesduff have been very generously sharing their food stock from their own larder.
To cap it off, Mitchells Potatoes of Kilberry, near Navan, are still donating large quantities of potatoes, and Mr Hyland estimates that Food Cloud, through which the initial contact with Tesco Cavan was made, have been donating 400kg of food every week to the Cavan Food Hubs.
Wilton Waste even provided CLDC with wheelie bins to put in supermarkets for donations.
There are many more contributors too, among them Global Indemnity, and Enda and Sinead Breslin, who offered use of a warehouse in Corlurgan Business Park for food storage; Cavan Valu Centre, Cavan Autism Parents Support CAPS, Emma Egan, Musgraves on behalf of Supervalu, Cavan Sports Partnership, Cavan CYPSC, IKEA, Irish Red Cross, and the Cavan Branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association, public health nurses and St Vincent de Paul.
When the country does gradually return to some sense of normality, Mr Hyland hopes that locals will view the businesses and organisations who assisted in a favourable light.
“They stepped up to the mark when people needed them most and we’d hope when we’re back to normal, whatever shape that might be, that the support shown will be returned. It could easily be forgotten about as people get back to their routines of doing things, but I’ve faith it won’t and that people will remember.”
Full list of thank yous:
Tesco Cavan – The first donors to come on board with the Cavan Food Hub initiative. A variety of food has been collected at the store three evenings a week.
Cullys Bakery – Soon after Tesco came on board Brían Cully quickly followed delivering bread to the head Food Hub in the CCLD office in Corlurgan Business park for distribution to the various centres.
Fresh Today – Two evenings a week a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit have been picked up at the depot in Arva. To date Fresh Today have also donated over 5,000 plastic bags.
Virginia Park Lodge – Chef Eoin has delivered bags of ready to eat salads, fresh jams, chutney and pesto. These high grade food products would have been used as part of their own menus.
LacPatrick – Milkman Michael Sexton have been delivering over 450 litres of Champion milk and 450 lbs of Champion butter each week on behalf of LacPatrick.
Pat the Baker – A Civil Defence volunteer is collecting 500 loaves of bread each week from the bakery in Granard.
McCarren Meats – Bi weekly donations of 300 packs of bacon and 250kg of potatoes.
Drumully Boxty – Paul Farrelly has been kindly donating large quantities of his award winning boxty on a weekly basis.
Liffey Meats – the Ballyjamesduff factory is delivery 250 packs of mincemeat every week
Clonarn Eggs – Despite a shortage of eggs nationally Clonarn have been donating 1000 eggs every week
Aldi – Aldi donate ambient food every week to the food hubs.
The Cavan Centre – the Cavan Centre have been very generous sharing their food stock with us from their own larder.
Prior Brothers Swanlinbar – Over 1 tonne of vegetables donated to the Food Hubs
Moran’s jam – donation of 200 jam jars in a collaboration with Virginia Park Lodge.
Mitchells Potatoes Kilberry, Navan Co Meath who are still donating large quantities of potatoes.
Food Cloud – Food cloud have been donating 400kg of food every week to the Cavan Food Hubs.
Ann Marie Sexton and Global Indemnity who are currently running a GoFundme fundraiser for our Food Banks and Meals on Wheels.
Enda & Sinead Breslin who kindly donated the use of a warehouse in Corlurgan Business Park for food storage and distribution.
Special thanks to other donations from Cavan Valu Centre, Cavan Autism Parents Support CAPS, Emma Egan, Musgraves who gave a generous contribution on behalf of Supervalu, Cavan Sports Partnership for the donation of children’s skipping ropes, bubbles and chalk and anyone else who has made a contribution to the supply of food.
An army of Civil Defence volunteers packed bags, collected food from around the county and delivered parcels across every townland, village and town in the county – John Maguire, Hannah Martin, David Mulligan, Paul Cooney, Father Sean McDermott, Kenneth Traynor, Tony Traynor, Francis Brady, Yvonne Galligan, Neil Doherty, Bernie Tierney, Greta Weritz, Christenene Brady, Jim Harwood, Charles Fitzsimmon, Nigel McDowell, Carmel Prior
An Garda Siochana – Thanks to Gda Inspector Niall McKiernan, Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Mick Duffy, Sgt. Dermot Lavin, Sgt Karen Coughlan, Sgt Nicola Tuite, Sgt Stephen McCabe, Garda Caoimhe Finnegan, Garda Eamon Brady, Garda Mairead Fox, Garda Dave Quinn, Garda Lisa Stevens, Garda Cian O’Brien, Garda Mick Higgins, Garda Seamus Herron, Garda Gary Brennan, Garda Tony O’Reilly, Garda Charlie Christie, Garda Laura Keogan, Garda Eammon Brady, Garda Dave Quinn, Garda Richey Fay, Garda Alan Greally and any other members of An Garda Siochana who delivered parcels, checked in on vulnerable households and were able to respond to difficult issues as they arose.
Teach Oscail – Tara Lynagh and the team in Teach Oscail coordinated the large Cavan Town Food Hub
Focus Family Resource Centre – Angie McKenna and the staff looked after the Killeshandra Food Hub and surrounding areas.
Cootehill Town Team – Kerry Mullen and the Cootehill volunteers who coordinate the Cootehill Food Hub
Ballinagh Food hub volunteers – Padraig Reilly, Christina Beard, Jackie Gill, Charmaine Mc Loughlin and Darragh McCarthy
BDA, Sharon Ivors and Alma McCabe Garda 365 Youth Division for supporting our Food Hub in Bailieborough
The COVID-19 Emergency Response Helpline team in Cavan County Council – John Donohoe and the team.
Cavan PPN for promoting and advertising the Food Hubs with all the community groups in the county.
Cavan CYPSC – funding towards baby food and nappies
IKEA – a large donation of bed linen and towels.
Iris Red Cross – Julie O’Brien and her team who sourced a number of donations to the Food Hubs
Louise Cahill in the Cavan Branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association for providing Activity Packs to go into parcels to help people keep their mind occupied.
Public health nurses, Mary Sheanon Senior Community Dietician, Family support workers and St Vincent De Paul for their referrals.
Staff of Cavan County Local Development – Annmarie, Tara, Noelle, Mike, Hazel, Lorraine and Padraig.