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Welcome to Chapter Five of the Irish Examiner’s #CoronavirusSolidarity Journal.
Each week we will highlight for posterity those stories that capture the unique community spirit of Ireland’s response to the current crisis. Let us know about community initiatives that have been established to offer support to those most affected by the crisis or examples of people who go beyond doing their duty. Tag with us on @irishexaminer and use #CoronavirusSolidarity.
Read Chapter One here.
Read Chapter Two here.
Read Chapter Three here.
Read Chapter Four here.
[h2]Tuesday April 14[/h2[/h2[/h2[/h2Food Donation CallThe “Good Grub” initiative has launched an urgent appeal for donations to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to disadvantaged children of the DEIS school in the Dublin area. 
DEIS students normally receive their breakfast and lunch at school, but during Covid-19 their families struggle to put enough food on the table. As DEIS continues to supply a basic food package to thousands of families in the Dublin area, Good Grub is trying to raise at least € 100K to deliver fresh food to these school-age children as the crisis continues. Donations can be made through a[url = https://www.gofundme.com/f/9yuctw-Good-GrubGoFundMe campaign[url = https://www.gofundme.com/f/9yuctw-Good-GrubGoFundMe campaign[url = https://www.gofundme.com/f/9yuctw-Good-GrubGoFundMe campaña [url= https://www.gofundme.com/f/9yuctw-Good-GrubGoFundMe campaign[/url] or through the [url=www.goodgrub.ie]Good Grub website.
“The brilliant DEIS schools program understands that you cannot feed a student’s mind unless the body is also properly fed,” says Denis O’Reilly, president and co-founder of Good Grub. “The breakfast and lunches provided to these disadvantaged children were often the only healthy meals they received in a day, and now that schools are closed there is a serious danger that thousands of children will lose proper nutrition by the time they really they need it. “Friendly call
– Liz DunphyCork County’s friendly call has increased its service to combat isolation during the pandemic, they are now also organizing grocery deliveries, dog walks, recipes picking and even birthday greetings. Some 40 volunteers now serve 390 people, physically isolated in their homes but kept connected to the outside world by the Friendly Call team. Last week, a Friendly Call volunteer burst into tears when he saw how happy a new customer was, who turned 93 that day, when he brought her a birthday cake and an Easter egg on her special day. “Some people have no one, a birthday card from us is the only one they will get,” said Barry. “Anyone isolated or anxious, we can talk to them, and if they need something practical, they can help with that as well. You know the person and their needs.” Her colleague Gary Hornibrook had dropped a donated television to a woman who was alone. alone without television.
“It has been locked up for weeks and its television was broken,” Hornibrook said. “So we brought him a television along with a bag of groceries.” He said he would be lost without the service. Some people have not been out of the house in four weeks because they have underlying health problems or immunosuppressive diseases that could make this virus deadly. Many people are really grateful when we are there to help. “
A basic message for health workers.
A community that wanted to give a simple thanks to the country’s frontline workers as they fight the Covid-19 crisis has revealed its creative side with its lawn mowers.
Residents of the Forest Hills housing development in Rathcoole, Co Dublin signaled a difference in the community’s green area over the Easter holiday weekend.
David McGuirk, a plumber living in the housing development, was driving home late one night last week after an emergency call, and started thinking about all the hard work all the front-line workers were doing and he just wanted to thank them.
He explained, “I just wanted to thank everyone because the current situation due to the pandemic is obviously not easy for them.”
“I also wanted to bring our community together as I am very aware of our seniors and how they are dealing with the cocoon and I wanted them to feel included.”
Mr. McGuirk had the idea to cut the green on the development since the grass had grown bigger than it should. “I thought if we could mow them, thanks, it wouldn’t be great, but I honestly didn’t know if people would be interested in doing it.”
“I called friends Gazza Byrne and Derek Gallagher, whom I knew had good lawn mowers and I let them know the idea and they thought it was a great idea. Then other guys, Stephen Conway, Anthony Talbot and Keith Farrelly got involved. “
The friends pulled their lawn mowers onto the green and once they reached the grass at a manageable height, they practiced creating the letter T and four hours later they had the sign: Thanks to the frontline staff, they cut the grass.
“Once we managed to reap the T and discovered the dimensions that were needed, we continued to advance within the rules of social distancing.
“Residents, both young and old, noticed what we were up to and everyone wanted to help as best they could within the rules. It really got everyone communicating and it became a real party atmosphere on Saturday night. The good weather was a real advantage.
“We wanted to get a picture of the message, and luckily a resident here, who is a real mess at best, said he had a cherry picker to help us capture it.
“Well, nobody believed him about the cherry picker, but we all had to swallow our doubts when he showed up and managed to get some wonderful photos.”
But the group of friends knew little that the Garda helicopter, which refuels at the nearby Baldonnel airport, found out what the residents were doing.
They were able to fly multiple times during their work operations and capture the residents’ message from a better height.
“Everyone who was together was fantastic and it was wonderful for everyone’s psychological health, no matter how old they are.
“It has really brought our community together and also sent a message that everyone is together in this fight.”
Sarah Slater
The cork balloon artist’s bet to inflate happiness levels
A balloon artist got up at dawn over the festive weekend adorning his colorful home in an attempt to spread some positivity.
For Jenny Murphy, everything is designed to help make people smile.
The bright screen outside her home in Clonakilty is part of the global initiative called One Million Bubbles, launched to help cheer people up in the current situation.
“It’s about creating a positive atmosphere in your locality, whether you’re in an apartment or on a farm,” says Jenny.
More than 1,860 people have participated so far.
“People have been with ‘stay safe” or’ be nice ‘, I thought the most important thing we can do is wash our hands, so I decided to do it.
“Monday was going to be lovely, bright, and sunny, so I went out at six in the morning and started putting the balloons outside my house.”
The balloons are attached to a string of colored lights that will come on when it gets dark.
“I did it in the dead of night, throwing fairy lights out the window and I thought ‘no one really knows what I mean’, so I must have looked really funny,” says Jenny.
“Everyone here is already friendly. We live in West Cork, everyone is always friendly, we have great neighbors and there is a lovely, positive atmosphere throughout the place.
“We need to keep our social distance, of course, but we also need to make sure we keep making people smile. There are so many people who are in social isolation in a house by themselves. People are very nervous and a smile can make a big difference. Especially if people are alone now, day and night. “
Like many companies across the country, Ms. Murphy’s business, Ballincollig-based Red Balloon, has felt the effects of the Covid-19 shutdown due to the cancellation of many events and restrictions on social alienation.
“We are working on a plan to do a courier delivery service because we cannot deliver balloons ourselves, we are a non-essential service, but we can send them,” says Jenny. “We are looking to send balloons in boxes so that people can receive them, because even though we are at the moment, people still have birthdays and celebrations.”
She believes it is important to continue celebrating events such as birthdays and anniversaries.
“There are two days between my neighbors’ birthdays, they turned 13 and 15 respectively. It was lovely to be able to send them balloons. Two weeks ago, I was unable to give balloons to my mother because she lives in another part of the county and was unable to travel to her. So I thought, okay, we have to do something. “
Red Balloon is working to configure the service through its website, he adds.
“Hopefully we have it very quickly.”
Jess Casey
Irish Olympians reach out to asylum seekers and refugees
Olympians, asylum seekers and refugees gather virtually every week for exercise thanks to an innovative project led by former Irish Olympian Claire Lambe.
As a member of the Sanctuary Runners Movement, which uses running and exercising to bring those in Direct Provision together with the rest of Irish society, Lambe conducts #SanctuaryStrength exercise classes online every Saturday morning with hundreds of people who log in to keep fit.
What’s more, she has cornered her fellow Olympians to shoot videos in their homes and back gardens that the Shrines of the Way can access during the week.
“The Sanctuary Runners” now has more than 2,000 members across Ireland, of whom approximately a quarter come from direct supply centers. Normally we would get together to run every week, but due to the Covid19 crisis that is not possible, so I thought why not use technology to connect people and ensure they stay fit and healthy during this, even if they live in the confined space of a direct supply center. “
Every Saturday morning at 11 a.m. Sanctuary Runners (both Irish and direct) log in to Zoom for half an hour of spirited exercise organized by Claire Lambe.
“It is amazing, we feel connected even though we are all separated,” explained sanctuary runner Deborah Oniah.
Living in Direct Provision in Cork, he added: “It is very difficult for many in Direct Provision to exercise during this crisis and energy levels may drop, but the #SanctuaryStrength class really lifts us up, makes us stronger and lets us know that there is people who think of us. and loving us. It doesn’t take a lot of space to do the training and it’s recorded and sent to us so we can do it over and over again during the week. “
Other Irish Olympians have joined the #SanctuaryStrength initiative as Claire Lambe explains:
“Olympic silver medalist Annalize Murphy sent us a workout last week from her backyard that we were able to share with everyone. Thomas Barr, Sanita Puspure and Natalya Coyle have also filmed exercises and we are very grateful to them. And Ciarán O’Lionáird is sending some exercises from the United States. We hope to add some better-known names in the coming weeks. “
Graham Clifford, founder of Sanctuary Runners, said that the #SanctuaryStrength initiative enables people to show solidarity, friendship and respect to those at Direct Provision during the Covid 19 crisis.
“For people living in Direct Provision, the ability to exercise will now be greatly diminished. And people in the centers are stressed because the chance of contracting the virus is greater than for the rest of us. Many live in confined spaces, share rooms, bathrooms, eating areas, etc. This allows people to exercise, to feel that virtual friendly hand on their shoulder.
“We also have all of our Irish sanctuary runners: people working out together as families from their kitchens, hallways, bedrooms, backyards and even farms. Claire and all the other Olympic athletes are having a huge impact on the lives of so many people. ” through this. This is the epitome of the Olympic spirit. “
If you would like to join Sanctuary Runners and participate in #SanctuaryStrength exercise sessions, please email us at [email protected]
Lions Clubs agree to raise € 100k for ‘Hero Shield’ visors
The Lions Clubs have pledged to raise up to € 100,000 to fund 200,000 ‘Hero Shield’ face visors.
The project, led by James O’Sullivan of the Macroom Lions Club, will see viewers distributed free of charge to front-line health workers across the country.
It has earned the support of the 106 Lions Clubs in Ireland.
So far € 20,000 has been raised, including € 10,000 from Cork clubs and another € 10,000 in match funds from the District Humanitarian Fund.
“Twenty companies across the country are giving their time, talent and tools for free to produce these riflescopes, which are manufactured here in Ireland, are certified and meet EU standards,” said organizer James O’Sullivan.
See this post on Instagram
Cork Lions Club is coming on board with many other clubs in Cork to provide Front Line workers with face visors. Hero Shield Project, which addresses the vital shortage of PPE equipment among front-line workers dealing with the consequences of the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. This project, which received 10,000 euros from clubs in Zone L (south), with 10,000 euros from the district 133 humanitarian fund, allowed the production of more than 200,000 viewers to date. Cork Lions Club proudly follows the leadership of Macroom Lions with the Hero Shield Project. With the support of our fellow Lions in Bantry, Bishopstown, Carrigaline, Clonakilty, Cork, Douglas, Kinsale, Cobh Macroom and Skibereen, they all contribute € 1,000 each. You can help us reach our goal of € 100,000. We have created a bank account at AIB Bank, Patrick Street, Cork. Account Name: Lions Clubs International District 133 LHS Reference Classification Code and Account Number 934143 28864039 IBAN IE72AIBK93414328864039. Every euro raised will go to urgently protect our frontline heroes. Thanks from all of us. Lions Clubs of Ireland. #charity #volunteer #volunteering #lovecork #purecork #purecorklike #victorianquartercork #leeswim #vibesandscribesleeswim #ballrun #christmasfoodappeal #corklionsclubballrun #patrickshillballrun #claytonhotelcorkcitynesscf #
“The Covid-19 North and South teams have already approved the Lion Hero Shields.
“A Garda Síochána, hospitals and nursing homes in the north and south of the country have been contacted and are eager to receive our PPE as soon as possible.
“The need is clear as statistics show that frontline staff accounts for almost a quarter of Covid-19 cases in Ireland.”
The visors are made in Ireland by Hero Shield, a new collective of non-profit companies, and are certified to meet all relevant EU standards.
The HSE has already noted that since the viewfinder has no moving parts, it is easier to sterilize and reuse than many existing solutions.
Lions Clubs district governor Bernard Black said the bill allows Lions Clubs to make “a significant contribution to the battle against Covid-19 in Ireland.”
Hero Shield will be available free of charge to HSE and An Garda Síochána staff in the Republic of Ireland and NHS and PSNI staff in Northern Ireland.
Cork GAA club raises thousands of PPE for hospitals and nursing homes
A Cork GAA club is hosting a unique concert to raise € 3,000 for local hospitals.
St Michael members Sarah Carroll and Leah Coughlan hosted a Kenny Live concert on Facebook this Saturday, April 18.
They hope to raise € 3,000 to help Mercy Hospital and St Luke’s Nursing Home, Blackrock buy much-needed PPE for their staff to help protect them and their patients from the spread of Covid-19.
By Monday morning, just a day after the GoFundMe page was created, they had raised nearly two-thirds of their fundraising goal.
Sarah and Leah are asking anyone who has tuned into the concert to donate a minimum of € 5.
“We as a club and community would like to raise a little money to help keep our critical workers, who are already sacrificing so much, safe from Covid-19,” both said.
You can tune into the concert this Saturday on the club’s Facebook page starting at 8 p.m.
You can make a donation on their GoFundMe page
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