January - June 2021
Having left behind the challenging, harsh Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020, little did we know that the month of January would bring thousands per day being infected by Covid, and within one month, one thousand lives lost. It was truly an overwhelming and frightening time. We on the frontline of Community Development had to consider our actions with care. As an Organisation, working with those most vulnerable, it was not our choice to have all of our staff working from home, but we had to adhere to our own and governmental restrictions and policies at level five. In January, we focussed our efforts in relation to social isolation and connection for our senior citizens and those with chronic health problems. We collected their medicines, paid their bills, did their shopping, rang them, gave them time, stayed connected with them with the hope of keeping fear and depression at bay.
We, the Family Resource Centre were present to assist families in distress. It was hard to start the year again on an uphill climb, but this wasn’t new to us. Through the Safe Ireland Covid-19 Emergency Fund, we were enabled to give support to families at real risk. For those living poverty or structural violence, lockdowns meant increased costs. Schools closed led to adults and children in the home together all day equalled large bills, in safe and non-safe homes. We used the fund to ensure heating and lights were kept on, nutritious, healthy food was bought and delivered and household goods and washing powder was bought. We made sure basic needs were met. The Department of Social Protection also allowed their School Meals Programme funding to be spent on healthy food for children attending our After-schools Programme. We delivered food to the homes of our children on our books. We were certainly kept going, our staff adapted in a time of crisis and we carried out a lot of our meetings and compliance through Zoom, which was more challenging for some than others!
February came, and the waves of emotion and shock continued to impact as the numbers infected with the virus and the deaths kept climbing. The spirit and energies of all the communities we serve were very low. Those living in the flat complexes, with small balconies, no gardens and overcrowding conditions did the best they could to keep their families safe from the virus. With steady effort and commitment, we as a full team in Community Development, Childcare and Violence Against Women worked to meet the needs, give reassurance and also release energy to lift the spirits.
The Community Development Team focussed on Valentine’s Day, using the moment for face to face work with our senior citizens. We made up Valentines goody bags with chocolate, roses, hearts and cards. We went knocking on over eighty doors, chatting with them and delivering the heart based message for Valentine’s Day celebrations. It brought a beam of light to those struggling through fear and isolation and lack of hope.
