Next Friday April 4, the Midlands Simon Community will hold a bag pack in Tesco stores across the Midlands in aid of homeless services. Volunteers for the Midlands Simon Community are taking over the bag packing in stores in Athlone, Mullingar, Kinnegad, Longford, Tullamore, Birr, and Edenderry.
Supporters are asked to look out for collection buckets in their local store, and are reminded that all monies raised locally stay locally. Midlands Simon Community worked with over 200 people in 2013 and will continue to support them on their road out of homelessness. Events like the Tesco Bag Pack help to bridge the gap between the cost of rebuilding people’s lives and State funding for these services.
Tony O’Riordan of Midlands Simon said “A huge thank you must go to Tesco Ireland for giving us this great day to bag pack in one of Ireland’s largest supermarkets. The day will not only raise vital funds for Midlands Simon Community to help tackle homelessness in the Midlands but will also help raise awareness of Midlands Simon and the unfortunate reality that there are people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, in each and every community who need help.
“Rural homelessness is not letting up as more and more people are presenting to local authorities. Last year alone, we worked with a middle-aged man who was sleeping in a ditch because he had no home,” continued Mr O’Riordan.
“I am delighted to be able to say that gentleman is receiving the help and support he needs and is on the road to getting a home of his own, and he will have our full support for as long as he needs it.”
