A cheque for €1,758 was handed over to Michael Loughman, founder of Sleep Out Cavan, recently in the Tesco Store in Cavan Town. The money came from the Tesco Community Fund. From left: Mike Johnston, customer assistant with Michael Loughman, Airyn Guistne, and Therese Clarke, all from Sleep Out Cavan.

Sleep Out Cavan works to support poor and homeless

Sean McMahon

Published: Thu 26 Nov 2020, 5:09 PM

A charity that seeks to support the homeless is currently supporting three people in County Cavan who are sleeping rough. Sleep Out Cavan is also continuing to provide clothes and supplies to people on the streets in Dublin.

Michael Loughman is the founder of Sleep Out Cavan and he revealed to The Anglo-Celt the status of the three homeless in Cavan, two of whom are sleeping in tents in Cavan Town.

“They are in the tents out of their own choice – they are happy in the tents. The other man is in and out of emergency accommodation all the time,” he said.

Those in the tents keep themselves warm with “good sleeping bags that we provided and duvets. They also have great support from the community as well and they are being given food”.Michael added: “They have been offered accommodation and they just don't want it – they are happy where they are.”

He made the comments at a cheque presentation ceremony. Mike Johnston from the Tesco store in Cavan Town handed over €1,758, an allocation from the supermarket's community fund - the third donation this year from the store.

Sleep Out Cavan have a base at the old St Patrick's College Complex in Cavan where they take in clothes and footwear and give them out to the needy.

“We had a woman in yesterday in tears because her son had no shoes. His shoes were broken and she could not get into a shop to get shoes for him. That is as a result of the Covid restrictions and we have now put out an appeal looking for shoes,” detailed Michael as an example of some of the types of requests they get for help.

“We are providing clothing for a lot of families in the county and outside the county. Just recently a group from Roscommon supplied us with a van load of clothing the other day. We have sent 1,044 bags of clothing to Dublin also this year so far - last year it was 800 bags,” said Michael who thanked Tesco for their support.

The gardaí, Palliative Care, the hospitals, social workers and carers contact Sleep Out Cavan when they require items for people in need.

The Sleep Out Cavan Clothing Depot at St Patrick College is now on instagram, facebook and google maps together with all relevant contact details.