Bringing you closer to the real-life stories of the people your donations help across Ireland.
Rachel has worked at SVP’s Yellow Brick Road Childcare Centre for the last 18 years and has been the manager there since 2018. And it’s the centre’s vital role at the heart of the Waterford city community that she values most.
“We always make sure we’re providing support to our parents, as well as looking after the children’s needs.”
“I became part of SVP in 2006 so this is my 18th year here. We’re a community based creche in the heart of Waterford City and we have children here from all different backgrounds.
I’m sure we have everything that happens in life – parents going through breakups, depression, and lots of families struggling with the cost of living. They might not always say it to you, but we know it’s out there.”
…Continued overleaf
“I suppose my ethos in life coincides with SVP’s. I try and be kind to others, appreciate what I have, and give to people that don’t have things.”
Geraldine’s story
It’s the simple things that count
“We’re not just a childcare service here, because we give that bit of support to parents in the community as well, which you wouldn’t necessarily see in other places.
We also work with Oasis House, a domestic abuse refuge just up the road. We always keep two spaces for them here and I never give those two spaces away. That’s just one of the differences that makes us SVP.
But sometimes it’s just taking the time to talk to parents at the door. They miss a lot of time with their children because of work. So they love to hear about their child’s day.”
No child should go hungry
“I remember one Christmas we noticed something amiss with one of the children. So we asked the mother was everything okay. We had a good old chat and she said she was finding things hard. But an alarm went off in my head. It turned out she didn’t have any money for food. None.
I contacted the conference straight away because this lady couldn’t wait, and we got a voucher to her. Simple really, but it made a big difference to her.
This is a busy place. The children have fun. And we make sure they’re safe, loved and well looked after. Thanks to the people who support SVP, this is a happy place.”
“One of the children I looked after as a toddler came back years later, when he was in 5th Year in school. He came to the door one day and gave me a big hug. It turned out he had got himself into a little bit of trouble and was coming out the other side of it. He just wanted to chat. I had a particular name for him when he was young, a pet name I suppose, and he asked me would I call him that again. It made him feel safe. That’s how important this place can be, even to very young children.”
– Geraldine, Assistant Manager at Yellow Brick Road Child Care.
How you’re helping to keep the show on the road
Denis is the SVP President in County Clare and knows all about the huge impact your kindness is having on those struggling with the cost of living crisis in rural areas.
“Clare is a very rural county and there’s a big problem around transport here. People rely on their car but when it breaks down, the costs can be a serious issue. And for many, replacing their car is way out of reach.
A lady came to us recently with a repair bill of over €1,300. She’s a lone parent living out in the country because the rents in town are so high. She needs the car, and that’s money she simply doesn’t have.
With no car, she can’t get her son, Kyle, to school. She can’t earn money. She’s on a very limited income and all these things are hitting her – electricity, food prices, a new cooker because the old one broke.
And on top of all that, Kyle is hurling mad and she couldn’t get him to hurling camp.
But thanks to the kindness of our incredible donors, we could help get the car sorted and Kyle’s back at hurling camp and loving life again.
Some people are really struggling and any emergency at all can cause real trouble. Our amazing donors mean we can help fix those things.”
Lovely Hurling
That’s
how your kind support makes all the difference. Kyle is back on the hurling field and his mum is so grateful to be back on the road.
How you support our incredible volunteers
This year marks the 180th anniversary of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Ireland. And Denis knows it’s our incredible community of volunteers that make us what we are.
“SVP volunteers are really committed people, who always go the extra mile. When someone asks for support, two volunteers go on a visit and we try to work out the difficulty, whatever it may be.
The number one problem today is the cost of living and here in Clare, transport and accommodation costs have a huge impact.”
Noel volunteers in the Crumlin area of Dublin and is one of 10,000 SVP volunteers nationwide.
“People call, looking for help and we visit them. I like the work, meeting people in their homes, helping them however we can. We’ve helped families with children on the autism spectrum get diagnosed privately. Otherwise they’d be waiting two or three years. And with rents too, which are astronomical now.”
Madeleine is in her 80s and has been volunteering for the SVP in Cavan for more than 30 years.
“It’s a rural area and people can become very isolated. We offer support and friendship as well as practical help with cost of living increases.
Food costs have been very difficult in the last few years. And we help with basic items like children’s clothing, beds, mattresses and washing machines.”
There are difficult times ahead, but Denis, Noel and Madeleine will be out there, with thousands of other amazing volunteers, doing everything they can to make sure your donations help as many people as possible.
Would you like to volunteer with us?
Our greatest strength is YOU. Your support is at the heart of everything we do and it’s people just like you who do such incredible work as SVP volunteers.
If you’d like to help families and individuals with friendship and practical support, contact us now at www.svp.ie/ways-to-help/ volunteer and join the team.
How you help at crucial times
“A high cost moneylender’s loan may seem like a lifeline. But the unfair repayments become a terrible burden. And we find out about it because people come to us for help with food or utilities.”
– Dr Tricia
Last year, SVP received almost 1,200 requests to help people who were struggling with funeral costs.
Another example of the terrible impact the cost of living crisis is having on so many people today.
Losing someone you love is never easy and getting a big funeral bill can be devastating for those already struggling with everyday costs.
Traditional funerals can cost as much as €10,000 and SVP’s Head of Social Justice, Dr Tricia Keilthy, explains that this can lead to further hardship.
“Families often go into debt to pay for a loved one’s funeral and then struggle with other essential costs.”
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with funeral costs, ask for help. And remember that state supports are also available from the Department of Social Protection.
Your support has already changed the lives of so many people – like Kyle, who’s back playing hurling thanks to you. And many more will come to SVP over the coming months.
You can help make sure they get the ongoing support they need by becoming an SVP Monthly Donor.
Becoming a monthly supporter of SVP means your kindness will go even further, supporting even more people in their time of greatest need.
And it’s so easy to do – just fill in the reply form that comes with this newsletter or go online to svp.ie. Thank
Your support goes such a long way
The cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on people and SVP volunteer, Ben, is seeing a dramatic increase in people in full-time employment asking for help.
“Last Christmas, a mother and father came to us. Lovely people. Both in full-time employment with good jobs. They’d five children under 12 and they had Santa all sorted.
But the week before Christmas two of the kids got sick – one with a really nasty abscess in his ear – and it knocked them back €200. An expense they just hadn’t expected.”
Thank you for your fantastic support
Every year we receive countless messages of thanks from the people you’ve helped. Here are just a few. Please enjoy, because it’s your incredible kindness that makes these differences in people’s lives.
You Help Put Food On The Table
“They weren’t getting paid again until the end of January and they had family coming on Stephen’s Day. They had nothing left for food. Everything else was up to date. It was basically just putting food on the table for Christmas.
My heart went out to them because they were so embarrassed to ask. But our kind donors meant we could give them a voucher. A simple thing. And that sorted it for them. I doubt we’ll hear from them again, but we’d always leave the door open. We’re there for anyone who needs us.”
I
would like to say a huge thank you for the food vouchers and to the volunteers who took the time to visit me. Also, to those who donate to the Society. I wish you and your families all the very best – Margaret
Thank you so much. My boy is 6. I’m forever grateful to you for all the help.
– Sarah Jane
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude. I got a food voucher and a topped up Leapcard and it means a lot to me. Here’s a big Thank You for you, your donors and all your volunteers – Frank
I broke my hip last year and I want to say a sincere thank you to St Vincent De Paul. The two ladies who visited me were incredibly kind and the help I got from SVP really helped me through that tough patch. Your help was very much appreciated – Brian
Phone: 0818 176 176
Email: fundraising@svp.ie
Website: www.svp.ie
To give, please use your reply envelope enclosed, or call SVP on: 0818 176 176 — Thank you! All stories based on real families helped by SVP. Images, names and some details have been changed for confidentiality. Thank you for understanding.
National Office SVP House, 91-92 Sean MacDermott St., Dublin 1, D01 WV38
