‘Loneliness can be as harmful as hunger’: Penny Dinners to host 300 people on Christmas Day 

As we reach Christmas week, most Corkonians will be finalising their dinner plans for the big day. A yearly stressor for many is whether we have enough – enough vegetables to satisfy all the guests, enough tins of biscuits for however many visitors may appear at the door, enough festive snacks to see us through the season.

But what about people in Cork who really don’t have enough food at all? People affected by homelessness, addiction, fuel poverty, the cost-of-living crisis – a whole variety of reasons - meaning that for them, the thought of a heaving Christmas dinner table seems wholly out of reach?

This is where Cork Penny Dinners steps in. One of the city’s oldest charities, they have been serving meals to people in need since 1888.

Christmas is their busiest period, and this year they expect to host around 300 people at their annual festive dinner in their facility at 13 James Street. Volunteers will also be out delivering food in the community all this week.

As a gesture of goodwill, we are delighted that The Echo is proud to support the vital work of Cork Penny Dinners by once again pledging 100 Christmas dinners on behalf of The Echo and EchoLive.ie readers

While the number of people seeking the support of Cork Penny Dinners has stabilised, it remains high.

The charity has observed an increase in families coming to them for help. “The cost-of-living crisis is hitting families and we see that reflected in those reaching out now for support. In September and October alone, a total of 149 individuals requested help – with 17 of those families needing support for children,” says General Manager Sharon Murphy.

It is Sharon’s first Christmas in her role, having been appointed in March of this year.

Sharon, who has a background in Food Safety and HR, first joined the charity in 2024, the year it moved to its James Street premises. This relocation was a significant change for Cork Penny Dinners, which had served the local community from Hanover Street for 75 years. The new HQ has a new, larger kitchen with cold rooms, a computer room, and a welcoming, communal feel.

“We have a meeting space which serves the community as a hub for support, workshops and gatherings or just a place where people can come together in safety, dignity and respect,” explains Sharon.

The larger kitchen and additional facilities are necessary to meet the demands of the busy charity, which serves around 500 meals every day from 9am-1pm. Approximately 15,000 meals per month are dished out by the charity’s dedicated team of volunteers.

On an average day, up to ten volunteers work on the premises serving dinners, but on Christmas Day more than 15 will be there to help out. Up to 20 people a day also volunteer at the charity’s warehouse, based in Churchfield.

Cork Penny Dinners receives no government funding, and is therefore 100% dependent on public donations and, of course, the vital support of its volunteers. Sharon and her team never cease to be amazed at the hard work of people who give up their time to assist at the charity.

“We are so grateful to our wonderful volunteers who continue to provide care and time to our service users. We couldn’t do it without them”.

The need for volunteers increases during the busy festive season.

As well as the sit-down Christmas meal, Sharon explains that they “see a much greater demand for food hampers, so having extra volunteers is essential. We know it’s a time when people have their own family commitments, so we’re extremely grateful to anyone who can give even a few hours over the holidays”.

For anyone thinking of volunteering at Cork Penny Dinners – be it over the Christmas period or in the coming new year – what can they expect?

“Our kitchen in James Street is a very busy space with lots happening at once,” notes Sharon, “so volunteers can expect to help with a wide range of tasks, everything from making sandwiches and preparing teas and coffees to packing takeaway bags, washing up, and of course, serving the public”.

For anyone nervous about helping out in a kitchen, Sharon is keen to stress that no cookery experience is required.

“You certainly don’t need to be able to cook to volunteer, as our head chef Jack Revell cooks all the delicious and nutritious food for the charity.

“The most important qualities [in a volunteer] are the ability to multitask, stay focused, and feel comfortable in a busy, sometimes noisy environment while maintaining a warm and positive attitude.”

In a year of change, another progressive development at the charity has been the adoption of a new data capture system. This enables them to identify how many people have been helped over the past few months, and how many will need help this Christmas and into 2026.

This enables the charity to operate more efficiently as they track the number of people who come through the door at 13, James Street, and request food hampers.

“This gives us a clearer picture of who we’re serving and the challenges they may be facing. It also means we can proactively reach out to people we’ve met throughout the year who may need extra support at Christmas,” explains Sharon.

The new system, Sharon continues, has been “invaluable in helping us understand demand and ensure no one falls through the cracks”.

Making sure that no one falls through the cracks will be a top priority during Christmas week.

The team at Cork Penny Dinners is aware that not everybody who needs a meal will be able to attend 13, James Street in person on the day, so drivers will be busy working to deliver food in the lead up to Christmas and on the big day itself.

“This year we expect to distribute approximately 500 hampers and around 200 hot meals, so having reliable drivers is absolutely vital”, says Sharon.

“Our delivery radius extends across Cork city and its immediate surrounding areas, ensuring that anyone who needs a meal can receive one, regardless of their ability to travel.”

As Sharon reflects on a busy year at Cork Penny Dinners – her first as General Manager - what has surprised her most about the charity since taking up her role?

“I was struck by just how many different people the charity supports. I think many people assume our service is mainly for those experiencing homelessness or addiction, but the reality is much broader.

“We meet individuals and families from all walks of life who, for many different reasons, are struggling to feed themselves”.

For Sharon, this reality is “a powerful reminder that any of us could find ourselves in a similar situation. Having a safe home and a hot meal is a privilege, and working here keeps that front of mind every day.”

Despite the focus on Christmas, Sharon and the whole Cork Penny Dinners team have still, of course, been planning for 2026.

A key priority for the new year will be restoring a full sit-down service, something which was suspended during the Covid pandemic.

“It has always been at the heart of what Cork Penny Dinners has done for over 140 years,” says Sharon.

“Loneliness is becoming a major issue in society, and it can be just as harmful as hunger. Creating a warm, welcoming space where people can sit, chat, and share a meal is more important than ever”.

The charity also hopes to further address the plight of loneliness by extending its outreach services, working with local groups to provide more shared community spaces where people can forge new connections.

“As we lose so many traditional gathering places, like post offices, banks, and local pubs, these shared spaces become even more vital. Food has always been a wonderful way to bring people together, and we want to play our part in helping those connections flourish,” said Sharon.

Whatever the new year brings, one thing that’s certain is that Cork Penny Dinners will continue to rely on the generous support of the people of Cork – be that through volunteering or food and monetary donations.

It is this generosity, as well as the work of others in the community, that has inspired Sharon the most during her first year in post.

“Whether it’s donating money, giving food they could easily use themselves, or volunteering their time after a long week of work, people consistently show up for others,” she said.

“I also see incredibly dedicated community organisations and healthcare workers who are out there every day supporting vulnerable individuals and families. Their work is often unseen, but it makes a profound difference. It genuinely is a privilege to work alongside so many generous, compassionate people”.

It is ordinary, big-hearted Corkonians like these who, Sharon notes, reflect “the true spirit of our community”, at Christmas and beyond.

• If you are interested in volunteering with Cork Penny Dinners, register through the charity’s website at corkpennydinners.org.