SVDP helping many cope with Christmas burden
Glenn Malone hands over a cheque, raised by the Wicklow Tennis Club, to Louis McCall and Cathrine O'Connor of the St. Vincent de Paul.
Wednesday December 23 2009
IT'S OFTEN easy to forget about those less fortunate than ourselves as we sit around the table at Christmas day awaiting a massive feed having opened a countless amount of presents.
But, Christmas is also the time of year where the less fortunate have to continue dealing with their hardship, often while trying to put on a brave face for their young families so as not to spoil the festive season.
With the current economic depression, those already close to the breadline now find themselves struggling to put food on the table, never mind geting around to paying those mounting bills.
Louis McCall, President of the St. Patrick's Conference of St. Vincent de Paul, knows from dealing with people just how much pressure those experiencing poverty and social exclusion have to deal with.
'The needs of people are often different. Often you will be dealing with someone who for the first time finds themselves in a position where they can't support their bills.
'They are often very embarrassed and won't approach St. Vincent de Paul. You really have to dig to find them. In that way we are dependent on the network of people we have built up.
'People know we provide a totally confidential service. Someone might contact us about someone in difficulty. At no stage would we ever go back to that person once we have contacted the person in difficulty. We can offer advice, assistance and various supports.'
Louis has been the President of the St. Patrick's Conference for the past 4 years, covering Wicklow town, Rathnew, Glenealy and Ashford. The concept of need is greater than just financial hardship, so visiting the sick and the lonely can often form a large part of the soci-
