Hardy souls beat the cold for the homeless
DOWN the years there has been ice and snow and this time, it was wind and rain that greeted the ‘sleepers’ as part of this year’s Drogheda Homeless Aid sleep out.
For the most part, sleep was the thing missing as buckets rattled into the early hours on West Street and elsewhere on Saturday night and into Sunday.
Maureen Ward from the centre said it was a great community celebration again, all getting behind the cause.
She thanked everyone for their support, from sleepers to bucket shakers,
Pizzabaker for their very generous gesture of pizzas during the night, Flogas, Ciaran Noone of NE Logistics for the provision of a truck.
‘I’m always astonished by Drogheda people’s willingness to give to those less fortunate and to do so with such magnanimity.
‘One older lady gave one of our volunteers €100! Another gentleman has, for the past 5 years, walked to the base in West Street to give me €300 towards Drogheda Homeless Aid and the list goes on and on. Thanks to all who gave no matter how small. We could not have done it without a huge voluntary effort, and the support of local businesses, both large and small.
‘Finally for now, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Gardai, who certainly had a very busy night!’
Maureen Ward, DHA manager was joined by 20 others in sleeping out and these represented people from all sections of society, namely, Robert Murray, Drogheda Chamber Vice-President and First Citizen Finance who was joined by Gearoid O’ Daly head of finance and by Tony Mason also, with First Citizen. Other sleepers included Andrew Woods, Farmer, Anne White volunteer with DHA, Mihaela Balan, Administator DHA. Other business representatives were: Barry Eccles Outsource Services, Stephanie Murray, Boyne Valley Group, Julie Plunkett, Coca- Cola; Daniel Danko, Vice-President Ireland, Shared Services (Greabel). Margaret Reilly, Grand Designs was joined by her brother Ian. Representing No Three was Tina Fitzpatrick. Friends
Caroline Conroy and Siobhan Cronin participated, as did Simon Lockwood and Tanya Adare, longtime volunteer fund-raisers with DHA, as was Fr. Barry Matthews who was one of two people sleeping out’ celebrating’ their birthdays.