A charity donating baby supplies to new mums is reporting a surge in demand across Galway – far more than the national average during the current cost of living crisis.
Community Connect, Ireland’s national baby bank, supported 332 families in Galway last year – an increase of 85 per cent on its 2024 record of 113 families.
The organisation is reporting an alarming 80 per cent surge in Galway, way beyond a 50 per cent increase nationally, in demand for essential items over the past year. This includes clothing bundles, packs of essential hygiene supplies, buggies, cots, cribs and car seats, among other items for pregnant women and mothers of newborns. Many require frequent deliveries.
“The increases in Galway were driven by more referrals coming in to us from social workers, UHG, domestic violence shelters, migrant support organisations, community healthcare providers and many others. A contributing factor may be that more people became aware of our service during 2025, but the demand certainly increased significantly,” says Elaine Noonan, Community Connect co-founder and CEO.
“One-in-five children in Ireland now lives below the poverty line, forcing parents to choose between heating their home, food, or basic necessities like nappies and cots,” she added.
Community Connect teamed up with Ikea last week. The Swedish furniture giant will donate €1 to the Irish charity for every one of its ‘Grejsimojs’ line of children’s play furniture sold.
With depots in Athlone, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, and Dublin, the 50 per cent national increase in demand has recently prompted Community Connect to introduce a second daily delivery each week in some areas. The charity supported almost 1,000 families in 2025.
Since its establishment in 2023, Community Connect has supported over 1,750 families, completing over 2,000 deliveries across Ireland, providing 1,576 clothing bundles, 873 buggies and strollers, 554 cots and cribs, as well as numerous other vital baby equipment and gift packs.
