The international homelessness charity, Depaul, is celebrating the role, importance and ongoing contribution of volunteers in Ireland this week.
National Volunteering Week (May 14-18) is being celebrated through a myriad of activities across Depaul’s more than 25 accommodation and outreach services for people experiencing homelessness across Dublin, Derry, Belfast and Dungannon.
Depaul Director of Fundraising & Communications Mairéad McGinn said: “We really value the contribution that is made by volunteers across the organisation, from helping out in emergency hostel services with tasks in the kitchen to providing some compassionate interaction with our service users.
Diverse
“They bring a diverse range of skills, time and energy to really engage with our service users on a human level. Many people experiencing homelessness feel that society is looking down on them, the kindness in the simple act of even playing cards with someone can help to counteract that.”
Many of Depaul’s volunteers are over 60, have finished raising their families or have retired. Volunteering in Depaul homeless services gives a sense of structure and an engagement in the community that many miss upon retirement and it can be an outlet for their valuable skills and experience.