MORE than 300 copies of The Irish News were delivered to vulnerable families in west Belfast yesterday as part of a community group's food parcel run.
The papers were donated in response to an appeal from the Lenadoon Community Response Centre, based at the Glen Parent Community Complex on the Suffolk Road.
Every Thursday, the team of volunteers come together to deliver just over 300 food parcels to vulnerable people and families in the community.
While some of the recipients have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, others are elderly or have underlying conditions and are unable to go outside to shop for themselves.
Funding was secured from Belfast City Council for 80 parcels and community donations make up the remainder.
Local GAA club Sarsfields GAC is among those who have been supporting the scheme, while members of the local business community have also helped.
Michael Doherty, from the Lenadoon Community Response Centre, said those receiving parcels had mentioned missing getting a daily paper and so The Irish News was asked to help out.
"We delivered just over 300 free of charge and it is going to give people a good, quality newspaper to read and so we are very thankful to The Irish News," he said.
"There is a lot of kindness in people that has really shone on this."
Mr Doherty said there are many people in the community in need of support.
He said he was contacted last week about a woman with children who had no money and had "run out of food".
He said she now receives food parcels and the team was also able to help with clothes and other items for the children.
"We gave out 304 parcels today," he said.
"Not just to people in Lenadoon but the nearby Suffolk estate and the Glencolin estate.
"People have been really good. The amount of support, the amount of goodwill has been unbelievable."
Anyone who would like to make a donation or nominate someone for a food parcel can call 028 9058 5544.
