HELPING OTHERS: Etain Usher (Tralee Food Aid) with Martina O'Riordan from Killarney who has set up Dignity Packs Kerry to help those in need. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

A brand new charitable service has been set up by a Killarney woman to help those in financial dire straits retain their dignity.

Dignity Packs Kerry, which aims to supply free toiletries to people in need,was founded by Martina O'Riordan three weeks ago to give hygiene supplies to those who can’t afford life’s basics.

Now she’s hoping it will become a countywide initiative and she’s looking for others to come on board to help.

Martina became involved through Etain Usher from Tralee Food Aid, who runs a service that donates food to families and individuals. Etain suggested setting up the service and as Martina wanted to help others she jumped at the chance.

She’s asking locals to donate items such as shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, shower gels, razors and shaving foam, face cloths, soap, sanitary towels and Tampons, toothbrushes and toothpaste, wet wipes and nappy sacks, which can be dropped into special collection bins at the various collection points in town.

She explained that the items donated will be placed in plain brown paper bags and dropped into emergency accommodation centres, Meals on Wheels and schools.

“Etain asked if I’d like to branch into this and I set up a Facebook page three weeks ago,” Martina told the Killarney Advertiser this week.

“It was friends and family helping at first but it’s growing.”

Tesco Ireland, who also support Tralee Food Aid, have come on board and Martina plans to put collection bins in the New Street store in the coming days. She’s also hoping businesses could sponsor buying plain paper bags, collection bins for other locations, or allow bins to be placed in their stores. Volunteers are also welcome to help, she added.

“It’s not just for people in emergency accommodation,” Martina said.

“It’s the ones with high mortgages that don’t have the extra funds for the basics. We don’t want to know who is getting them. We’ll get them out there to the people who need them through the centres.”

She added that if she met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that she’d ask him to meet people who are still living in poverty.
“I’d like him to meet these people and realise that there’s a whole country here that needs help. He needs to see what others are going through outside of Dublin. If we don’t do it who will? They’re not going to do it.”

To donate or to enquire about sponsoring a collection bin, signage or bags, contact Martina O'Riordan on 085 1167173, via email: dignitypackskerry@gmail.com or on Facebook: Dignity Packs Kerry.