A Dublin-based charity has vowed that it will continue to carry its food services for the most vulnerable despite the coronavirus. However, while Merchants Quay Ireland said it will still offer urgent essentials at its Riverbank base as take-away, all other activities such as hot showers, counselling and contact work must be restricted.
The homeless drop-in centre has also offered access to the old ‘Tea Rooms’ on Cook Street to hand out food at the door since last week and caters for up to 80 people a day.
“They would be the people who are living on the streets,” says chef Dave Kinsella of those the centre serves. “For whatever their reason, they’re not in a 24-hour hostel. They’re sleeping rough outside at night.”
He added: “The people coming are here because they have absolutely nowhere else to go, and without this they’d be completely lost.
Isolated
“I’m isolated from the rest of the crew because of infection control and hygiene. I’m here in the main kitchen where I always was, making the sandwiches and putting them together with a bottle of water and a piece of fruit, maybe some chocolate or biscuits.”
Kinsella continued: “What I miss is being able to give a nod and a smile to the clients, that interaction. But we’re trying our best to give people their fair share.”
The GP and nursing services in Riverbank will continue to operate and medical services may be supplemented as the situation develops.
Frontline
Marguerite Kilduff, a nurse who continues to work on the frontline, says their clients are “scared” in this “tough, challenging time”.
“Wound care is more difficult because it takes longer,” said Kilduff.
“We’re constantly sterilising surfaces and washing hands. Homeless people can’t keep up with the news as the rest of us can.
“They don’t know how bad it has become and they’re shocked by the social distancing, because they’re not used to it.”
She added: “What they used to know is now completely changed for them. It’s made them very, very scared.”
Visit mqi.ie/donate/ or call 01-5240139 to donate.