Listening service is still open

THE East Coast Samaritans continue to offer a listening ear to those in need of support.

While their office on Arklow’s Main Street is closed to the public, volunteers are still manning the phones and offering emotional support through telephone calls, texts and email.

‘Some volunteers are doing double duties at this time,’ a spokesperson for East Coast Samaritans branch said.

‘We are listed as a vital service by the Government, because many of us need someone to talk to. Our team has been heroic in their attention to their duties, particularly as many of our older Samaritans are cocooning and can’t come in as they normally would. Other volunteers have been filling in.’

Like other charities, the service is experiencing a drop in fundraising activities due to public health restrictions. Collections outside supermarkets and church-gates, fundraising nights are all on hold. However, the branch still has to cover its annual running costs, which are estimated at around €25,000.

Whilst incoming calls are not charged to the caller nor Samaritans, they must still pay rent for the Samaritans centre in Arklow and cover other bills including heat, light and insurance. While training of new volunteers has been suspended until the autumn, it represents a considerable investment for the group which covers an area from Bray to Rosslare, Co. Wexford.

The East Coast Samaritans fundraising committee has set up a ‘GoFundMe’ page and are asking those who wish to do so to make a donation to help the service. An ambitious target of €10,000 has been set and the page will remain open for donations while the current restrictions are in place.

Those who wish to make a donation can do so at https://www. gofundme.com/f/zr5btj-east-coast-samaritans. Alternatively, search for ‘East Coast Samaritans’ and ‘GoFundMe page’.

To contact the Samaritans, call 116 123 24 hours a day.