COPE Galway has issued an urgent appeal to the people of Galway to help the local organisation support the most vulnerable people in our community during the Coronavirus Emergency.
The local charity operates frontline services for families and individuals in Galway who are homeless; women who experience domestic abuse (and their children) and older people who now, more than ever, may experience social isolation while they protect themselves at home.
Sharon Fitzpatrick, COPE Galway’s Head of Development said, “We are doing everything we can to support those who need us but we can’t do this alone. We are appealing to the people of Galway, who have always been so supportive, to help us meet the needs of vulnerable people in our Community during this crisis.”
You can help COPE Galway continue to offer essential services to those who are most affected by the Coronavirus Emergency.
Please visit the website, copegalway.ie/coronavirus-appeal to:
- Make a donation to the appeal to provide urgent support to vulnerable people in our community who are most affected by the Coronavirus crisis.
- Buy a fresh, home-delivered meal for an older person, who is currently unable to prepare their own meals.
A fantastic team of dedicated, committed staff and volunteers has been working hard to ensure that essential services have remained operational during the Coronavirus emergency.
Some of the ways COPE Galway is responding during the crisis include:
- Supporting self-isolation – reorganising services to facilitate self-isolation for vulnerable client groups.
- Home-delivered meals – providing fresh ready meals and delivering them to older people.
- Reducing social isolation – phoning older people and providing practical help such as food, pharmacy and fuel shopping.
- Supporting self-isolation – reorganising services to facilitate self-isolation for vulnerable client groups.
- Home-delivered meals – providing fresh ready meals and delivering them to older people.
- Reducing social isolation – phoning older people and providing practical help such as food, pharmacy and fuel shopping.
- Information and advice – distributing practical information to older people.
- Homeless families – cooking and delivering fresh meals and food hampers to families living in emergency accommodation.
Sharon Fitzpatrick continued, “We are so impressed with the offers of help and assistance already coming in from the Galway community during this crisis. However, now more than ever, we continue to need your help. Our staff couldn’t do the work we do without the generosity of the Galway people – our donors, supporters and our volunteers, who are so essential to our services.
“Please visit our Coronavirus Appeal page and see how you can help. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support, especially during this time of unprecedented need.”
You can also help by sharing the COPE Galway Helpline/Emergency numbers (see list below) and information with anyone who needs assistance. You can also share relevant social media posts to help COPE Galway reach the people who most need support.
Along with their day-to-day phone numbers (main office 091 778 750), COPE Galway operates a number of Helplines and Emergency numbers during the Coronavirus Emergency:
Older People’s Helpline for practical help and support: 085 876 7785
Meals4Health – meal preparation and delivery service: 091 354 000 or email info@meals4health.ie
Domestic Abuse Service 24-hour Helpline for women: 091 565 985
Cold Weather Response for Rough Sleepers seeking accommodation and assistance: 085 800 9641 or 085 800 9709 or email CWR@copegalway.ie
Emergency Homeless Service: 1800 788 887 (7pm – 11pm only)
COPE Galway Day Centre (Office Hours) 091 525 259
Please, give what you can. Visit copegalway.ie/coronavirus-appeal
Note to Editor:
COPE Galway is a local Galway Organisation whose vision is an “Improved Quality of Life in a Home of your Own” for people affected by homelessness, women and children experiencing domestic abuse, and older people.
In 2019 COPE Galway worked with 1,189 adults and 433 children affected by homelessness in Galway, including 187 families and 868 single people. They also worked with 638 individual women who were experiencing Domestic Abuse. COPE Galway Community Catering produced and delivered 61,016 meals to older clients and to our services around Galway and our Senior Support Service worked with 724 older people at risk of isolation.