This week will see a further four hundred ‘In the Bag’ well-being packs and information envelopes distributed throughout the county, bringing to almost one thousand the total number given out since June. It’s all part of the local community response during the COVID-19 pandemic and in keeping with the national ‘Keep Well’ campaign.

Kerry County Council, in collaboration with their many partners, are continuing to develop and deliver local resources to promote and support health and well-being under the various themes of the national 'Keep Well' campaign, which is aimed at showing people of all ages the importance of minding their physical and mental health and well-being by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily routines.

The ‘Keep Well’ campaign focuses on five key ways to well-being that can be practised each day to maintain or improve our mental health and well-being; keeping active, keeping in contact, switching off and being creative, eating well, and managing your mood.

IN THE BAG

The ‘In the Bag’ initiative and information envelope is a collaborative effort involving Kerry County Council, Healthy Kerry, the Kerry Public Participation Network and the Kerry Age Friendly Network, and many others. Some of the items in the bag were also generously donated by IT Tralee’s Students’ Union. Bags and envelopes are being distributed by the Red Cross, An Garda Síochána, Local Link Kerry and Meals and Wheels services to members of the community who are identified as potentially benefiting from supports during the Christmas season.

Each bag contains practical resources such as local support contact information, advice on preparing for winter and extreme weather conditions, and exercise plans helping people to stay active for periods of reduced movement. The bag also contains resources designed to encourage people to take time to switch off and be creative, such as a gratitude and mindfulness journal and colours, healthy eating recipes, and a sweet treat for a cup of tea.

"The 'In the Bag' initiative forms part of the larger COVID-19 Community Response in Kerry, an effort that wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and ongoing support received from the network of local agencies and the volunteer community in Kerry," Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteen said.

"This community network strives to ensure that lonely, vulnerable or at-risk members of our community will not be forgotten this holiday season and will be aware of, and have access to, the many resources in place to support them."