Carnew Community Care rolls out meals service
A new Meals on Wheels service has been rolled out in Carnew.
A collaboration between staff at Carnew Community Care and a group of volunteers, the service was set up in mid-March in response to coronavirus. While long-term residents at Carnew Community Care remain in their homes, the centre’s day care service had to close its doors to comply with social distancing guidelines. However, the HSE asked Carnew Community Care to find ways to provide a meal service to older members of the community who were cocooning. Meetings took place and the new Meals on Wheels venture was put in place to respond to the needs to those in the community who were cocooning.
The take away meal service provides a main course, soup and dessert in sealed containers that can be re-heated. Meals are prepared by staff of Carnew Community Care with around 60 to 68 meals prepared a day. They are then delivered by volunteers to homes in Carnew, Coolboy, Tinahely and Shillelagh and the surrounding rural areas on Mondays to Fridays.
Councillor John Mullen, who volunteers with the service, said that funding has been secured from the HSE to keep the wheels turning for several months.
‘Volunteers are delivering meals to Carnew, Coolboy, Tinahely and Shillelagh. We’ve secured some HSE funding for the project until the end of August. The aim is to support older people who may be cocooning or more vulnerable members of the community.’
Meanwhile Carnew GAA will also be raising funds for Carnew Community Care this weekend as players and club members aim to complete at least 1,000 km on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24.
The Annual Summer Bazaar, which is one of Carnew Community Care’s main fundraisers, cannot go ahead this year. The centre’s boutique charity shops in Carnew have also had to close their doors during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Players, club members and those in the community who wish to support the fundraising event are asked to run, walk or cycle whatever distance suits best to help them reach their goal of 1,000 km and log it on their Facebook page. Carnew GAA is aiming to raise €5,000 for the service.
Donations can be made on Carnew GAA’s Facebook page or via donation boxes in Osbornes Centra and Candys Costcutter in the town.