St Patrick Soup Kitchen

ST PATRICK’S PARISH SOUP KITCHEN

An in-depth look at the inspiration, motivation and driving forces behind some of the organisations supported by Dundalk Credit Union’s Community Support Fund in 2019.

St. Patrick’s Parish Soup Kitchen was opened twenty years ago by Fr. Gerry Tremer, the then Administrator of St. Patrick’s Parish. A homeless man had been found dead on the street in Dundalk and this shocked the whole community. St. Patrick’s Parish Soup Kitchen was opened as a direct response to this tragedy; a means of support to those in need and for Dundalk’s homeless. Today you will find a dedicated team of volunteers providing a warm meal, a kind word and a feeling of welcome from the front door, 7 days a week.

St. Patrick’s Parish Soup Kitchen is opened Monday to Saturday 7pm-8pm and Sunday 4pm-5pm. People come for different reasons, some for a hot meal, some for shelter and some for conversation, this might be their only company all day or perhaps all week. People can also let one of the team know if they need fresh clothes or bedding and a voucher is quietly organised for them to use at The Dundalk Simon Shop. St. Patrick’s Parish Soup Kitchen goes way beyond just a meal, it is a helping hand, a listening ear and a social hub.

Rose Bailey, a stalwart team member for over 15 years, says of St. Patrick’s Parish Soup Kitchen “we all say here, ‘there for the grace of God go I’ and it is so true. Year on year, our number of users has grown and the demand remains high. When it began almost 20 years ago, we gave out 20 food parcels a week, today sees a minimum of 150 parcels each week. The support of Dundalk Credit Union and its Community Support Fund means that we have a working budget for the year ahead, something that allows us to plan with some certainty. They also have supported us at key times during the year, for example Christmas’s St Patrick’s Cathedral Marbhna Requiem which gave us funds to make Christmas special for a lot of people.”

With the loss of Authentic Foods to Dundalk, St Patrick’s Parish Soup Kitchen are actively looking for a business to supply or indeed sponsor frozen meals, a staple of the weekly food parcel. Rose Bailey says “we rely heavily on the goodwill of Dundalk and its people. The team welcomes food donations; items in constant demand include pasta, pasta sauce, tea, sugar and rice pudding.”

Katie Bailey, St John of God’s Dundalk Hub, brings Finola, Conor, Jimmy and Michael every Friday to help out. These volunteers are much treasured and much needed. Anyone who feels they could spare a few hours every week is welcome and can contact Rose directly at the number below. It is essential for safety and security that every volunteer is Garda vetted.

Pictured – Back row L 2 R Mary, Jimmy, Katie Bailey, Megan Hughes, Front row Niall, Rose Bailey, Conor & Finola

Billy Doyle, CEO, Dundalk Credit Union added “At Dundalk Credit Union, we believe in giving you our best, so you can be your best; putting people first can change peoples’ lives. That sentiment of care and compassion resonated with us about St Patrick’s Parish Soup Kitchen and the work of their team. We are honoured to support the continued and much needed work of St Patrick’s Parish Soup Kitchen.”

Dundalk Credit Union held an Easter Egg Appeal this year for local business businesses and individuals to donate Easter Eggs, ensuring every child in Dundalk received an egg at Easter. One of the beneficiaries of the drive was St. Patrick’s Parish Soup Kitchen.

If you are thinking of fundraising on behalf of St Patrick’s Soup Kitchen, please contact Rose or a member ahead of the event. This gives time to promote your event of their Facebook Page and get the word out to Dundalk and its wider community to support your event.

Contact St Patrick’s Soup Kitchen

If you would like to contact St Patrick’s Parish Soup Kitchen telephone 042 9334648, 086 3718194 or email stpatricksparishdundalk@gmail.com.