Christmas Dinner Delivery & Party to older people in the Shannon, Sixmilebridge, and Cratloe areas.

Description

On an annual basis An Garda Síochána Shannon, with the support of many local businesses and organisations join forces to organise Christmas Dinner Deliveries and Party for Older People residing in the Shannon, Sixmilebridge, Cratloe, and Newmarket-on-Fergus areas. The concept originated in 2017 with our Community Policing Members, Gda. Tom Downey and Gda. Ailish Hanley, along with our Garda Staff Members. This heart-warming event aims to bring holiday cheer to elderly residents during the festive season. An Garda Síochána remains committed to fostering a strong sense of community, and we take immense joy in witnessing the widespread utilisation of our community support.
For the months leading up to Christmas, the ball starts rolling and organisation of this special event begins. It commences with co-ordinating the generous sponsorship and support from local businesses and organisations. The main focus of this event is delivering home cooked Christmas dinners to our Senior Citizens by Members of An Garda Síochána. Almost 400 Christmas dinners were delivered last year in Shannon/SMB/NOF/Cratloe areas over a period of 3 days. All dinners (and mince pies) were freshly made each day and supplied by Shannon College of Hotel Management. Posters and correspondence go out to local businesses and organisations advertising the Christmas dinner’s deliveries & party. Phone calls/emails to Shannon Garda Station start coming in to request a dinner for a loved one or a friend or themselves. Transition Year Students from Shannon Secondary Schools are enlisted in the week coming up to the deliveries to put together gifts that will accompany each dinner. The happy and willing young volunteers filled 400 mugs with little gifts and treats. Our local National School children from Shannon/SMB/NOF/Cratloe make Christmas cards for the older people with a special wish. A number of the older people have continued to maintain contact with the children from whom they have received a card. On the 3 days of Christmas dinner deliveries, a massive co-ordination is involved. About 15 An Garda Síochána Members and Garda Staff are tasked with delivering the meals each day. Dinners are collected from Shannon College of Hotel Management on each of the 3 mornings. Meetings are held to divide the meals into areas to ensure all are delivered on time (usually lunch-time – you can’t be late). Meals, cards, gifts are all delivered with a smile, a chat and a wish for a happy Christmas. The Senior Citizens Christmas Party is held in Wolfe Tones GAA Club a week later. This event is attended by over 100 Senior Citizens from Shannon /SMB/NOF/Cratloe. An enormous amount of organisation goes into the smooth running of this. Volunteers from the locality and businesses/banks are welcomed to serve copious cups of tea/sandwiches/cupcakes. Our local photographer Joe Buckley records the many happy moments, children along with their teachers from our local primary schools bring entertainment, and later Michael Wall, the local musician, strums his guitar, weaving melodies that evoke memories of Christmases past. And then, there he is, the jolly old man in red, Santa Claus himself, with his hearty laugh. The highlight of the afternoon is the raffle. In the weeks leading up to the Party, many spot prizes are generously donated to the event by local restaurants/shops/hotels.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of the initiative is to primarily reach out to older and vulnerable people in the Shannon /SMB/ NOF /Cratloe areas during the festive period and let them know they are not alone. They are an integral part of the community and this initiative provides an opportunity to bring people together and make a difference in someone’s life. It is not just about delivering meals, it’s about connection to the community. The purpose of delivering meals is to find out how this person is doing, are they alone, have they concerns. The reassurance that An Garda Síochána are available to a vulnerable person can alleviate a sense of isolation. It is recognised by the community that the older people are the generation that came to live and work in the area many years ago and created the great communities that we all live in today. The event reflects the commitment of An Garda Síochána to fostering a strong sense of community and providing essential support to those in need. This event gives Members of An Garda Síochána the opportunity to meet vulnerable older people and reassure them that An Garda Síochána are available for them 24/7.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative is aimed at older residents in the Shannon, Sixmilebridge, Cratloe, and Newmarket-on-Fergus areas during the festive season. By organising a Christmas Dinner Delivery and Party for Senior Citizens, An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with local companies, organisations and Shannon College of Hotel Management, creates an event to bring a smile to the older population of our community and also for those we attend the Christmas Party gives them an opportunity to meet friends they may not have seen in a while. The event reflects the commitment of An Garda Síochána to fostering a strong sense of community and providing essential support to those in need.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Goal Clarity – it was essential that all stakeholders involved in the organisation and implementation of the initiative were given clarity in terms of the purpose, aims and objectives of the project, specific roles and responsibilities and that everybody understood the overarching goal.
2. Effective Planning – there were several key elements that ensured the success of the project including conducting a thorough needs assessment of the needs and preferences of the community members including dietary requirements and mobility issues. It was also critical to ensure that a realistic budget was developed and adhered to, along with a comprehensive timeline outlining milestones, deadlines and tasks both in the lead up to the event and on the day of the initiative.
3. Consistent Action – this was crucial in the planning stages of the initiative as it ensure steady and consistent progress in the organisation of the project. Regular, clear communication was essential and ensured that all stakeholders were informed and engaged through out the process. Establishing and sticking to the timelines was key to ensure the ongoing success of the initiative.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Volunteers – a challenge identified early on in the planning stages of the project was the recruitment, training and motivating suitable volunteers.
2. Funding – access to funding is another key challenge as there is no dedicated funding for this project
3. Ensuring inclusion of all older and vulnerable people who wanted to be involved in the project

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Sense of Community Spirit
2. Invaluable service for older people at Christmas
3. Meeting the needs of older people within the community