SVP seeing rise in calls amid higher energy costs
St Vincent de Paul in Offaly is facing into a particularly busy Christmas this year, with higher energy costs contributing to an increase in calls for assistance from people in the county.
The rise in demand comes after a year in which Covid-19 again hampered traditional fundraising activities.
John Devery, the president of the charity's visitation conference for Offaly, told this newspaper on Thursday that the requests for help from the public had certainly increased this year, "because the fuel and electricity (costs) have a knock-on effect."
He said it was too early to put a percentage figure on the increase, but that volunteers with the charity had been "in fifth gear" trying to keep pace with the calls and correspondence coming in.
"There's increased demand, and unfortunately our resources are slightly down this year," he said, mentioning the loss of bag packing revenue and decreased income from church gate collections due to the pandemic.
He said St Vincent de Paul would have a clearer picture of the situation locally in January when it looks back on the activity that had taken place in the run-up to Christmas.
The charity is currently running its annual appeal which is asking people to make a donation in order to help save families from having to make impossible choices this Christmas, such as deciding whether to buy food or heat their home.
At the launch of the appeal, earlier this month, the charity said calls for help nationally had already tripled when compared with those received last year. In the first week of December, more than 1,000 calls were received by the Society's Belfast office alone.
Mary Waide, Regional President of St Vincent de Paul for the North Region, said: "We are receiving more calls than we have experienced in recent years and more requests via our website from people who would not normally speak out and seek help".
She paid tribute to the SVP members, volunteers and staff for their support.
"I would like to thank all those involved in ensuring that families receive the help they need, and for the empathy they possess in ensuring that the needs of those requesting assistance from SVP are met with dignity," Mary commented.
The final Late Late Show of the year, on RTE One tonight (Friday), will be a special episode in support of the St Vincent de Paul annual appeal.
Stars from movies, TV and music will be joining Ryan Tubridy on the programme, with Andrea Corr, Ronnie Wood, Colin Farrell, Brendan O'Carroll and Majella O'Donnell among those set to appear.