Laois homeless charity issue urgent appeal in face of frost and snow

Portlaoise Action to Homelessness (PATH) have issued an urgent appeal for supplies. 

The Portlaoise based homeless charity are appealing for ground mats, tents, tarps and clean sleeping bags and warm clothing to donate to the homeless community in the face of freezing temperatures. 

"This is just to make their lives a bit easier," PATH Chairperson Jason McEvoy told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"If they are warmer, they may get to sleep through the night, and survival outside in these temperatures. Sleeping rough is something I experienced from my time in the Defence Forces, I have an insight into it," Mr McEvoy said.

"It's absolutely horrible. Ground mats would be a massive help to have, anything to make their life a little easier. It's horrible, the ground is freezing," he said.

The charity recently attended the Ógra Live Well Expo in Mountmellick Community School, and were delighted to receive donations of left over food from their fellow stands.

"We are forever on the hunt for funds," Mr McEvoy explained.

"We are asking schools if they wil fundraise for us. we attended the Expo in Mountmellick Community School, there were about 1000 kids came through. We had a discussion a woman in the school, she made the great suggestion that if every student brought in one non-perishable item, that's 700 items we can donate," he said.

PATH will hold a collection at St. Peter & Paul's parish church on December 21-22nd.

"We also have a bag-packing event in the new Tesco where Iceland was. We will have people there bag-packing, any donation would help," Mr McEvoy said.

"We look after over 100 families locally with large sacks of non-perishable food. People can afford to pay the gas, but then they can't afford to pay for food. Different referrals come to us and we help how we can," he explained.

The group receive food quarterly from FoodCloud, a Dublin charity that collects surplus food from businesses to avoid waste.

Pictured: A charity cycle undertaken by PATH in July 2024.

"Our next collection from FoodCloud is in early December, we are very discreet in our delivery to Laois homes," Mr McEvoy explained.

"We are just here to help, but we can only give out what we get in. People in Laois are very good, and help out as best as they can. When we put out an appeal, we get great responses. McDonald's vouchers are brilliant for donation too," he said.

In over nine years of operation, Mr McEvoy believes that the homelessness crisis in Ireland is at an all-time high.

"I'm at this nine years and it's worse than what it was. Our charity has grown along with the demand. It's just sad," he said.

"Rent is near impossible, there's no possibility for rent. People don't have the starting block they need for  Mental health is a monster, nearly every person we meet has an issue and it's terribly sad. A lot of people begin using substances because they are on the streets, rather than being homeless because they use substances," he explained.

"We have a really good group of volunteers, we all do our bit between us and we do the best we can. It's our own diesel we use and we don't get a wage," Mr McEvoy finished.

To support PATH, see their Facebook page here.