Cobh store distributes food packages to homes facing hardship this Christmas

A Cobh retail outlet has pledged to help local families facing hardship over Christmas by distributing food packages to their homes.

Posting on social media, Garvey’s SuperValu said they understood how the festive season can be a financially difficult time of the year for people in their locality and that they want to be there for those in need over the festive season.

They said that if people from Cobh are finding it tough to make ends meet and need some help this Christmas, they should email garveyscobhfoodpackage@gmail.com.

Their team will put a simple food package together, consisting of everyday staple grocery items and seasoning products, that will be dropped at the recipient’s door before Christmas. This will be done confidentially.

John Paul Curtin, store manager at Garvey’s, said they place great value on the community in Cobh.

“Garvey’s SuperValu is all about supporting local and we value our role in the community and the importance of giving back to the community,” said Mr Curtin.

“And what better time than Christmas?”

Over the years, Garvey’s has worked alongside the local Lions Club and St Vincent de Paul offering assistance to people facing financial struggles, especially at this time of the year.

Cobh-based Fine Gael county councillor Sinéad Sheppard, who has worked alongside the Lions Club for more than a decade, described the “special crew” at Garvey’s SuperValu as being the “hub of the community”.

“Both as a local representative and someone involved with the Lions Club for the food appeal, I can’t describe how important this is.

“I work closely with the Lions Club and we help more than 120 families in Cobh at Christmas through our food appeal.

“Garvey’s SuperValu are always on board with that, and for them to do something like this is absolutely extraordinary,” said Ms Sheppard.

“It goes to show how important local businesses are to the community and I applaud the special crew that we have out there in Garvey’s.”

Since the social media post went live last month, some 40 people have contacted Garvey’s pledging their support.

Garvey’s has run similar initiatives on previous occasions, and Mr Curtin said they have received a big reaction each time.

“People always look after each other and work together in Cobh.

“Only last week we had the Lions Club in store to run their food appeal.

“We are working alongside the Lions Club this year and we have a basket in store that customers can use to donate food,” Mr Curtin added.

Those wishing to receive a food package have just two days to contact the store, as the deadline is Monday. This is to ensure the packages can be prepared and delivered before Christmas.