THE Carndonagh
conference of the Saint Vincent de Paul is seeking
new members and collectors as the workload currently
facing its existing volunteers grows beyond their
capacity to deal with it.
A spokesperson said the charity was looking for
members to help provide services and visits in the
community, and also volunteers to help take SVP
collections after the three weekend Masses at the
Church of the Sacred Heart.
“Calls on our service have nearly doubled over the
past couple of years, and we need more help,” the
spokesperson said.
“You would hardly believe how many people are
struggling to pay their ESB bill or heat their home
or even to put food on the table. The change in
people’s circumstance over the past five or six
years has been dramatic.
“In the past people may have been reluctant to get
involved with the Saint Vincent de Paul, or even to
accept assistance from it, because there was a
perception that it was for poor people. But we live
in different times now.”
Like most conferences, Carndonagh SVP depends on its
church gate collections for income and is looking
for more volunteers to spend ten minutes taking up
the collection after one of the three Masses in the
Church at weekends.
“We have some very loyal collectors, but we need
more help,” the spokesperson added.
Anyone who can volunteer or who wants to find out
what volunteering entails, can contact the
Carndonagh SVP on 086 7856869. |