Trim food bank overwhelmed with the support of local businesses

Trim Family Resource Centre (FRC) Community Food Bank has been overwhelmed by generosity of the local community schools, businesses and clubs, particularly in the run-up to Christmas with non-perishable foods, toys and even a van donated in support of this service.

Additionally, as a part of an ongoing partnership with Scoil Mhuire Secondary School in the Trim WellRead Committee, Transition Year and 5th year LCA students volunteered to wrap books and toys which will be given out to boys and girls visiting Santa. The students sorted the books into categories, according to suitability - age range, gender – and then wrapped them up, all in time for a spot of festive reading.

"It is fantastic to see the community in the South Meath area coming together to support others around this time of the year when giving is not an option for all of the families. These additional items will be put into weekly food parcels so that each family receives a little bit extra at Christmas time," said Elaine Casey, Trim FRC Community Food Bank Administrator.

"Staff and volunteers are putting in a few extra hours this week as all donated foods need to be checked and logged to comply with the requirements of HSE. Little by little, a little becomes a lot," she added.

One of the Food Bank participants spoke of how much it has meant to her and expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the service: "When I was finding it extremely hard to make ends meet, getting through day-to-day for my family of 12 was unbelievably hard. When I rang that day asking for help with a food parcel, the Food Bank staff member was very kind to me and explained that we all need help at some point, and not to let it get me down. I was embarrassed going to the centre but on arrival I saw a friendly smile and a warm welcome. Elaine made me feel it was ok not to feel ok sometimes and the weight was lifted off my shoulders."

Meanwhile, the donation of a van from Meta's Clonee Centre has been a huge boost to Trim FRC's Food Bank as Coordinator Justyna Doherty explained: "Donation of a van from Meta Clonee Centre will be an added bonus to help us transport food from the local supermarkets Aldi, Lidl, Tesco and M&S as part of a FoodCloud and Neighbourly initiatives. It will give us more stability going forward as it is harder and harder to recruit volunteers with rising costs of diesel and petrol."

The Food Bank helps immensely with reducing food waste in our community but it needs a more sustainable funding and operational model to ensure it stays open and relevant to families who are registered with the Food Bank," she added.

Donated items this December included: food collected as part of Tesco Food Appeal, toys from staff in CareChoice in Trim, food from members in Trim GAA, and also from Kilmessan NS Parents' Association, Finnegan's Farm, Scouts, and Athboy Community School, food and toys from Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, food hampers from Trim Garda Station organised by Garda Edel Dugdale and sticks and turf from local donors.