Helping the homeless
AFTER many years of running their annual Christmas coffee morning Joan Boggan had all but decided to discontinue them.
However, with the homelessness crisis continuing to dominate both headlines and airwaves she felt compelled to go again, to run another coffee morning, this time to help those living on the streets or in temporary accommodation.
‘It had been my intention to retire from coffee mornings, but when I was reading about the homeless, about what people are going through, children in hotels, families scattered, I decided to do it for St Vincent de Paul (SVDP) this year.
‘It’s such a difficult time for families, there’s very little we can do except put a few euro together for the charities which help the homeless,’ Joan says.
For the previous six years Boggans had raised significant amounts for Wexford Hospice Homecare, an organisation which remains close to their hearts.
This year’s focus on one of the biggest crises in modern times led to Joan and the staff at Boggans raising €2,500 for the local branch of SVDP.
‘We thought it was very successful, we were absolutely thrilled with the response. We spoke to everybody who came in and they were all glad to help, so we were delighted with that,’ Joan said.
In addition to the coffee morning Joan and her colleagues have been actively raising money for Pieta House all year round, a collection box on the counter ensuring another charity close to their hearts receives regular donations and as much help as all those at Boggans can offer.