EVERY year for more than 50 years, the Christmas Hamper Appeal run by the Limerick Redemptorists has helped families in need, and this year with one in ten people in the Mid West in food poverty, help is all the more urgent.
This year the demand for hampers will be greater than ever as a result of the cost of living crisis which has hit poorer families especially hard, the organisers of the appeal say.
“The cost of many food items has gone up by approximately 5 percent, with some items such as chocolates increasing by as much as 12 percent. Figures suggest that up to 10 percent of people in the Mid West are experiencing food poverty.
“The aim of the Hamper Appeal is simple – to ensure that no family in the Limerick area will go hungry at Christmas,” said Fr. Brian Nolan, Rector and Director of the Perpetual Help Fund.
“As a native of Limerick, who grew up supporting and volunteering for the Christmas appeal, it is heartening to return as the new rector of the Redemptorists and see that people continue to support those who are most in need at this time of the year.”
In 2022, through the enormous generosity of the people of Limerick and beyond, approximately €348,000 was raised for the Hamper Appeal. This made it possible to distribute more than 7,000 hampers. Fr. Nolan believes that “at least as much money will be required this year to ensure there will be food on every Christmas table in the Limerick area.”
Street collections and fundraising activities will take place throughout December. The Hamper Donation Centre will be open at the Redemptorists from Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm.
Donations can also be made online at www.redshampers.ie or can be sent to The Redemptorist Perpetual Help Fund at the Redemptorist monastery.
Cheques should be made payable to the Redemptorist Perpetual Help Fund.
