PHOTOS: St Vincent de Paul Services Still In Demand As They Hold Customer Appreciation Day

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Launching the St Vincent de Paul Loyalty Card during the St Vincent de Paul Customer Appreciation Day at the shop on Friary Lane on Thursday were, from left; Breda Walsh holding Sophie Michelle Walsh, Helen Locke, Bridie O'Connell, Jean Hollywood, Junior Locke, Annette McElligott and Christy Lynch. Photo by Dermot Crean

Launching the St Vincent de Paul Loyalty Card during the St Vincent de Paul Customer Appreciation Day at the shop on Friary Lane on Thursday were, from left; Breda Walsh holding Sophie Michelle Walsh, Helen Locke, Bridie O’Connell, Jean Hollywood, Junior Locke, Annette McElligott and Christy Lynch. Photo by Dermot Crean

ST Vincent de Paul held a ‘Customer Appreciation Day’ on Thursday and its Tralee President reiterated that while things are improving for some in society, there is still a huge demand for their services.

A large crowd of shoppers and well wishers called into both their premises on Friary Lane, where they were treated to sandwiches, cakes, tea and some live music.

“We want to show the customers who come into the shop how much we appreciate and value them,” said Junior Locke, Tralee Area President of St Vincent de Paul.

“It’s also an occasion to launch our loyalty card where for every €50 a customer spends, they get €5 free.  We’re also distributing our questionnaire asking people their opinions on how we do business and how best to support people,” he said.

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Junior reiterated the need for donations and for volunteers in the Tralee branch.

“We’re constantly looking for donations and volunteers. Everything we get into the shop goes into supporting people in the Tralee area, which covers out to Ballyduff, Causeway and over to West Kerry, so it’s a massive area to cover. We’re lucky that we have great volunteers, but we’re always looking for more. As for funds, we wouldn’t be able to carry out our programmes if it wasn’t for our shops here,” said Junior.

Junior said – despite the perceived upturn in the economy – many people in the middle and lower income brackets are struggling.

“It [the recovery] didn’t filter down to the middle or low income earners. They’re still suffering, they still have the big mortgages, still in arrears. People are making a lot of sacrifices. The elderly have faced a lot of cutbacks over the years. So we’re not finding the ease yet,” he said.

The back to school period was a particularly busy period for St Vincent de Paul.

“We noticed when kids went back to school there was a surge in demand for services. We spent a lot of money on helping people with education costs. We get a lot of students coming to us,” he said.

There is a St Vincent de Paul conference in the ITT to let them know about their services, while students also hold fundraisers for the Tralee branch.

“Students are the future of the society, so we’re educating students to come into the society and if they need help we’re there,” said Junior.

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Helen Carmody, John Greaney and Frank Kennedy at the St Vincent de Paul Customer Appreciation Day in the shop on Friary Lane on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean

Helen Carmody, John Greaney and Frank Kennedy at the St Vincent de Paul Customer Appreciation Day in the shop on Friary Lane on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean

Tralee Area President of St Vincent de Paul, Junior Locke with Bridget Moriarty, St Pious' Conference Tralee, at the St Vincent de Paul Customer Appreciation Day in the shop on Friary Lane on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean

Tralee Area President of St Vincent de Paul, Junior Locke with Bridget Moriarty, St Pious’ Conference Tralee, at the St Vincent de Paul Customer Appreciation Day in the shop on Friary Lane on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean

Ross Brassil playing music at the St Vincent de Paul Customer Appreciation Day in the shop on Friary Lane on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean

Ross Brassil playing music at the St Vincent de Paul Customer Appreciation Day in the shop on Friary Lane on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean

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