Support from Laois and Carlow communities keeps vital food kitchen open 

St Clare’s Hospitality Kitchen, a lifeline for many in the Laois and Carlow communities, has thanked the public for their  incredible support following their urgent appeal.

Last month it was announced that the kitchen faced closure within eight weeks due to increased demand and limited resources. 

After a huge response for donations they can continue serving hot dinners for the next six months. 

Fr John Dunphy, Director of St Clare’s Hospitality Kitchen, stated, "This was the most important public appeal in almost ten years. The cost-of-living crisis and global events significantly increased the demand for our services, causing our costs to surge and nearly doubling the number of families needing food."
 
Since its inception, St Clare’s Hospitality Kitchen has been a lifeline for many in the Laois community, providing hot meals free of charge to those in need. The service, funded almost entirely by fundraising and donations, helps those who are ‘food poor’—individuals who can pay their rent, mortgage, and utility bills but must cut back on food to do so.
 
The recent surge in support has been extraordinary, and we are immensely grateful. However, as Fr Dunphy added "We need to keep this going. The challenges we face are ongoing. The rising cost of living and increased demand for our services mean that we must remain vigilant and proactive. St Clare’s Hospitality Kitchen is also making every effort to reduce costs while maintaining our high standards of meals provided.”
 
As of Wednesday, August 14 their iDonate fundraiser stands at €10,120 – nearly halfway to their target of €25,000. 

"We have also been overwhelmed by the generosity of people arriving at St Clare’s with donations, pledging to fundraise, and signing up for monthly direct debits. Every single euro has made an enormous difference to our work and is greatly appreciated," said Fr Dunphy.
 
Founding member Isobel Brooker emphasised our mission: "We know we are making a positive difference in our community and want to continue to do good work. I never go to bed hungry, and I think it’s important to tell people that some people in Carlow are going to bed hungry, and we must never forget that."
 
To donate, bank details for St Clare’s Hospitality Food Kitchen Ltd are BIC BOFIIE2D and IBAN IE65 BOFI 9065 3169 3735 69.