Last year they helped over 8,400 families.

But St Vincent De Paul (SVP) South-West is struggling to keep up with requests for food and fuel in the run-up to Christmas, logging more than 1,000 calls every week during the month of October.

“Unfortunately, if anything, our need for support from the public this year is greater as we face further pressure and demands on the core services we provide– food, shelter and education,” said SVP’s Regional President Paddy O’Flynn.

“Embargos on evictions and cutting off electricity and gas supplies during the pandemic have been lifted and we are receiving calls daily from people in dire need of assistance. Providing coal and fuel support during the winter months to families is a huge part of our work and while we are not a homeless charity, we do a lot of work behind the scenes to prevent people from losing their homes.”

The charity continues to provide up to 4,530 homes across Cork and Kerry with regular coal deliveries throughout the winter and are delivering around 350 food hampers every week to families in need through the SVP Cork and Kerry Hamper Projects.

“This has been another exceptionally challenging year for SVP South-West but particularly for the families and individuals, we support. We depend on the generosity of our many donors and we’re asking them to support us once again, if at all possible, in the coming weeks,” he added.

How you can help

The Annual SVP South-West Car Draw 2021 will be a key fundraising event for the region this year (first prize is brand new Ford Focus, kindly donated by CAB Motor Company).

Tickets for the raffle cost €5 each and you can purchase them online here.