Four Galway businesses have launched a charity initiative to help keep people warm this winter.
Fuel4Good is the brainchild of Ruairi Guckian of GHR Consulting, Alan Haverty of Outlier.ie, Janis Vitols of Ecofuel.ie and Brazco Coffee Academy's Linda Lydon. Together with St Vincent De Paul, the quartet is raising money "to help alleviate fuel poverty" in the community.
Their stated aim is to raise awareness of fuel poverty, and also to help those in need of warmth this winter.
The group says it will be working over the winter months to raise money with the community to purchase Ecofuel products which will be delivered to those requiring it the most. Ecofuel will be providing all of its products at cost price.
Deirdre Mullen of the SVP national fundraising team says its work in communities across the country has shown fuel poverty is a problem experienced by many families and individuals.
"With all of us spending so much more time at home, already those struggling to heat their homes will be under added pressure this winter," she says. "The great work of local small businesses GHR Consulting, Outlier.ie, Ecofuel and Brazco Coffee Academy coming together with Fuel4Good, will help SVP make sure people in our local communities will be able to heat their homes. With all that is going on in the world right now, people should have warmth and comfort at home. ”
She says there are four areas which this initiative is hoping to address, and include the basic need for warmth during winter; social inclusion - "this year more than ever, staying connected to those in need is critical";to make the public aware that more than 400,000 people in Ireland face fuel poverty every year; and to encourage community action, understanding and empathy of the needs of others, that together communities can help change lives.
Ruairi Guckian of GHR Consulting says it is a great initiative "to spread the word and generate awareness of fuel poverty in our local community, and more importantly what we can do to help alleviate it".
The coming months may be tough on many, says Alan Haverty of Outlier.
"We just want to make it a little bit easier where we can. Through various initiatives this year, it's been clear that community spirit isn’t lacking in Galway. We feel this project illustrates how something simple can be used to create real and significant change in someone’s life."
Janis Vitols says EcoFuel wants to make every impact a positive one. "Community is a huge part of who we are at EcoFuel and we’re fortunate to be able to support those who need help this winter.,” while Linda Lydon of Brazco Coffee Academy says Fuel4Good is an opportunity "to do a bit of good for the little patch of our world that's right there in front of us".
"Poverty, of any kind, in these progressive times, should no longer exist. It's a big problem. Too big for any one of us to tackle alone. We aim to address a bite-size part of a greater issue. Fuel poverty is an immediate issue facing many families in Galway this winter. Collaboration is our best bet in tackling this."
For more information on this initiative and to donate, visit www.fuel4good.ie
