Help is out there this Christmas

Christmas isn't always 'the most wonderful time of the year' for many people, and this year in particular, a lot of people will be struggling to cope over the festive season.

Financial worries, mental health problems and homelessness are among the problems facing many Meath families and individuals over the festive season.

The good news though is that there is help out there - with a wealth of local organisations there to call on in times of crises from mental health charities such as SoSad and the Samaritans, to charities like Meals on Wheels, Soup Kitchen, homeless charities and St Vincent De Paul.

Some 500 families in the Navan area are seeking assistance from St Vincent De Paul Society this year, according to spokesperson, Stephen Flattery.

"After the year we have had, more people need help, but we have been unable to raise funds in the normal way.

"We are appealing to people to donate this year by calling into our shop on Brews Hill.

"We cannot handle hampers this year, so we are looking for vouchers instead." Mr Flattery said that anyone who needs help can contact them on their freephone number 1800 677 777 and the service is strictly confidential.

The Soup Kitchen at Brews Hill, Navan is now open seven days a week from 9am to 4pm six days and 10 to 3pm on Sundays, serving to meals to anyone who needs it. They will be open on Chistmas Day from 11am to 2pm.

Mark O'Neill explains that while they were closed during the level five lockdown and during the earliest restrictions, they have kept open during the pandemic and during the period of closure continued to provide food hampers to clients in the Navan area.

"We have been supplying food hampers to over 100 houses in the wider Navan area and there has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of people contacting us."

The soup kitchen serves a full Irish breakfast in the mornings, a choice of two main meals at lunch time and soup and sandwiches before closing.

Homelessness is on the rise in Meath and a number of groups are working together to help provide food and clothing to rough sleepers.

Inner CIty Helping Homeless, Athboy Care and Share and Johnstown Tidy Towns have been helping rough sleepers providing them with food, clothes and sleeping bags.

"We also put together hampers and distribute them to people in food poverty," says Cllr Alan Lawes of Johnstown Tidy Towns.

"Our volunteers drop off hampers and go out at night with soup for rough sleepers."

The group also has a Santa box appeal and is helping out families in poverty, those in direct provision, Traveller families and the homeless.