Hundreds of people continued to arrive at the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin’s Smithfield for Christmas vouchers on Friday morning more than three hours after staff began distributing them.
The annual distribution of €50 supermarket vouchers at the city centre charity that helps the homeless and the hungry got under way at 6.30am, with a queue forming before 4am.
By 6am it stretched as far as May Lane. By 8.30am over 2,500 vouchers had been distributed to those who had waited in line for tickets entitling them to the vouchers last week. At 9.30am people were still arriving.
There had been distressing scenes at the centre on Smithfield’s Bow Street on December 11th when staff ran out of both weekly food parcels and all 3,000 tickets for the vouchers, two hours earlier than usual.
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However, there has been an increase in donations since then, both through the centre’s website and by phone, enabling it to buy an additional 600 vouchers for distribution on Friday. “In keeping with our mission, no one will go hungry,” said Brian Friel, the charity’s chief executive.
On Friday a further significant number of people came seeking help for Christmas but without tickets. They were advised to leave and return from 10am when staff would begin distributing the additional vouchers.
Through the morning and from 5.30am staff brought cups of hot soup to those queuing in the dark.
As with last week the queue included elderly men and women on their own, people in wheelchairs and some on crutches. There were parents carrying sleeping infants, others clasping school children’s hands. Some pushed buggies and prams, others shopping trolleys.
One young man, carrying a refuse sack filled with returnable drinks cans, said he had collected them and hoped to make “about €7″ when he brought them to a return centre.
[ In a country of such staggering wealth, no one should have to queue for free foodOpens in new window ]
A woman in her 60s arrived at 4am, having come from Dorset Street. “Well to be honest with you my mother died around November so Christmas is not the same to me any more. I am struggling and with depression,” she says. “But I have a son and have to try. Everyone has to look out for each other.
“I am definitely worried about the costs of Christmas. The voucher is a lovely thing.”
Owen, in his 50s and from Coolock, is “just so happy to get this” looking at the white envelope in his hand containing the voucher. He left home at 5.30am.
“This is just brilliant. One hundred per cent helpful. I have four kids and two grandkids and this is going to go for St Stephen’s Day dinner. The kids spend Christmas day with their mother and Stephen’s Day they come to me. It just means I can provide a nice dinner.
He continued: “The cost of living is bad. It’s actually really hurting me. It’s the heating. I’ve a one-bedroom flat and I am putting €50 a week in the central heating.
“I am on disability. I have arthritis in me neck, leg and lower back. It gets cold, it gets worse. I am in pain. There are only so many painkillers you can take so basically I have to have the heating on when it gets really cold. That’s where most of my money is going.
“My kids come to me every weekend and I have to make sure I have food for them. During the week when I am there on my own, I cut down on my food. It’s chips and beans. It does get me depressed. It’s horrible. It really is. But this will help me give them a lovely Christmas.”
A proportion of those queuing appeared to be from eastern Europe, including older people from Ukraine. None of those approached would stop to talk, saying they had little English. But one man in his 60s from Latvia said the vouchers were “very good”.
“Christmas expensive. I in Ireland seven years, start in the mushroom farms. No English, no job. I do one year in restaurant, kitchen porter. Next year go training in construction.”
Among the many children were three boys aged between about six and 10. They stood across from the queue watching, their schoolbags on their backs, speaking and laughing with each other. As a young woman in Roma dress left the queue, white envelope in hand, they ran across the road to her. The youngest grasped her other hand as they walked away towards Church Street.
Mary, a frail older woman, came from Tallaght. She described the centre’s staff as “so kind”. She said she “feels the cold a lot”.
“You just can’t afford life with the cost of everything going up. The heating is most important. I am very concerned about that.
“This place is so good. You couldn’t come to better. I come in on Wednesdays for the parcels and get my dinner. But it’s not just the dinner, it’s the people I meet here. They have been so kind to me. When I come to this door, you have no idea, it is better than any medicine.”
She was born in a “private nursing home”, and says her mother was a priest’s housekeeper and her father a priest. “I have had an awful life. I didn’t realise until late in life I could come to a place like this. I feel better when I am walking out of here. I don’t come every day but I know when I need to.”
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