.
Colette Price and John Leahy, volunteers of the Soup Kitchen. File Photo
THREE years ago, a soup kitchen was set up by two women in the Solas hall by St John’s Church on Ashe Street.
In October 2012, Colette Price and Dawn Roberts, decided do something for those that were struggling to put food on the table.
In the time since Ireland’s recession was declared over, the amount of people seeking a meal has remained steady. Every Saturday the soup kitchen opens its doors to between 90 and 100 people and recently the soup kitchen served their 10,000th meal.
Continued below…
.
It’s not something, Colette Price, thought would still be required, but as long as it is they will try to lend a helping hand.
“We find there is more people coming, the reasons why, we don’t ask. We’re completely private and confidential,” said Colette Price.
“There have been more and more people coming in and that’s been happening gradually over the past six months. People from all walks of life, we used to get predominantly men, but now we’re seeing an influx of women and families coming in,” she said.
“I think people are more aware of where we are now. We’ve a lot more people coming from outside of Tralee, it goes by word of mouth,” she said.
“We’re here to give people that little bit of support. Many that come in have bills and mortgages to pay and are just struggling a small bit,” she said.
When asked if there was any suggestion Collete would make to Enda Kenny, to help alleviate the necessity for a soup kitchen in a country that us supposedly on the upturn, she declined to get involved in a political discussion.
“We are here and we see what’s going on, but we try and keep the politics out of it, because at the end of the day we’re here to run a service. We’re only small part of what’s being done in the community, the politicians probably don’t even know we’re here.”
In fact, no public representative, as yet, has visited the soup kitchen to see the work that is being done at the coalface of the town’s poverty line.
“They’re more than welcome to call in for a cup of tea,” said Collete.
Because it’s only open on Saturdays, the soup kitchen has had to turn away volunteers, which is an example of the the amount of generosity that’s out there among regular people that goes unnoticed.
Because the Solas Hall is in use weekdays, Saturday between 12-2pm is the only time the service is available, though take-away dinners are provided. Any food, such as canned goods that have been donated by the public are left out for people to take home if they so wish.
The majority of food served is kindly donated by local businesses and restaurants. The Church of Ireland also provides the hall for free.
