News
Calls for more Killarney businesses to support foodbank charity
DELIVERING FOOD: Food Share Kerry's van driver and warehouse coordinator Brian McCannon prepares a delivery for Killarney on Tuesday.
By Sean Moriarty
A Tralee-based surplus food distribution charity - which has experienced unprecedented demand for its service in recent weeks - is calling on more Killarney based businesses to support its scheme during the current crisis.
Food Share Kerry, who act as a foodbank and supply depot where the food products are stored, sorted, graded and distributed to frontline agencies such as Ballyspillane Family Resource Centre and the Killarney branch of St Vincent de Paul, provides a link between producers of surplus food and charities that specialise in combating food poverty.
However, although it's experiencing a three fold rise in its service due to the increase in the number of people needing help - this has been hindered by the number of hotels and cafes that are now closed - which would usually donate excess food.
Fundraising efforts like street collections are also no longer possible because of COVID-19 imposed restrictions.
Depot manager, Courtney Sheehy, says demand has increased but the lack of donations is widening the gap every day.
The only retail outlets in Killarney currently supporting the scheme are the two Dealz branches on High Street and at Deerpark Shopping Centre, and she is appealing for more local outlets to get involved.
“Without the support we are not able to meet the demand,” she told the Killarney Advertiser. “People have lost their jobs or they are cocooning and they need us more than ever. We coordinate food distribution in Tralee and run regular deliveries to Killarney where we hand over to groups on the ground who will have a better understanding of what is needed and where in their community, but we need to bridge the gap between donations and what we distribute."
Food Share Kerry has set up a fundraiser with a €2,000 goal via GoFundMe: COVID-19 Response: We need your support!


