WITH the suspension of the season’s GAA at both senior and juvenile levels, a Coventry GAA club has turned its attention to supporting those most in need.
St Finbarr’s Gaelic football and hurling club has set up a weekly food drop at their grounds in Holbrook Lane.
There they collect perishable and non-perishable food items which are then sorted, bagged and distributed to those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
St Finbarr's Steve McDermott sorts goods for deliveryThe non-contact distribution service has seen the club working with the local branch of the Morrisons supermarket chain, who have made a number of donations to support their initiative, as well as The Trussell Trust, a national organisation supporting a network of foodbanks across the UK.
St Finbarr’s’ work over the past month has included delivering a donation of some 300 Easter eggs from Morrisons to those well deserving of a treat during the coronavirus crisis.
Treats for the staff at Leicester Royal InfirmaryThe dedicated team at the GAA club made an early morning delivery of the Easter treats to the NHS workers at Leicester Royal Infirmary, as well as to the local police service and some of the schools which have remained open for the children of key workers.
Special delivery by one of the St Finbarr's teamSt Finbarr’s Stephen Davis spoke to The Irish Post about the initiative and the work they are doing in the community.
"We are all been really impressed with the way the all sections of the club have come together to help with the project, and how the community have come together to help,” he said.
“We are reaching vulnerable families through our schools network and reaching the elderly and those being shielded through the local parish network,” he added.
“In addition, through the club membership, word of mouth and our local networks we are reaching the elderly members of our community.”
The club is working with The Trussell Trust foodbankdsAt the moment the work of St Finbarr’s sees them providing manpower to the Trussell Trust Foodbank in Coventry city, which has seen demand for their services increase tenfold since the onset of the outbreak.
Club members are donating and sorting donations during the week for the Trust before then going out on the delivery service which takes place every Friday.
The GAA club is also investigating the potential for a ready meal service which will see meals delivered in addition to the food parcels.
For further information about the club click here.
