SOME BRANCHES of the Society of St Vincent de Paul have run out of money before the start of their busy pre-Christmas campaign, it has emerged.
The society says its branches, known as conferences, have never seen anything like the number of calls for help they were receiving.
In October, there was a 44 per cent increase in calls for help in the greater Dublin region, when compared with the previous October. The society provides money, food, clothes and other services to families in need.
Its president, Mairéad Bushnell, said the first nine months of this year saw a 37 per cent increase in calls for help in Dublin, a 36 per cent increase in Cork and a 30 per cent increase in the mid-west.
"And now as the recession bites with unemployment up,and projected to hit over 8 per cent next year, we're seeing a growing sense of fear and hopelessness."
The society yesterday launched its biggest annual appeal to date, seeking €10 million to fund its services in the coming months.
Last year, it spent €46.2 million, or almost €890,000 every week, helping people in need.
"We'll have to spend over €50 million this year to help people in need," Ms Bushnell said. "In some areas, two in every three calls are coming from families with children, and more than one in four calls are from people who never had to use our services before."
The society's 2007 annual report, published yesterday, details more than 300,000 home visits made by 9,500 volunteers.
"At the end of 2007, we were on the cusp of change; the downturn in the economy was starting to bite," Ms Bushnell said.
"Things have got a lot worse since then and 2009 promises to be the most difficult year SVP has faced for a generation."
The society's treasurer Geoff Meagher said a number of conferences had run out of money and others were expected to do so next year.
The society expects to have to spend €60 million in 2009 just to maintain its services at current levels. Volunteers also said that delays of up to three months in making social welfare payments were presenting major problems to people who had just lost jobs.
Ms Bushnell said the recent Budget would undermine the modest quality of life of the most vulnerable. "The minimal increases in social welfare, pensions and the fuel allowance will be wiped out by rising prices," she said. She called for "decisive action" from the Government to protect the most vulnerable.
The society's appeal week runs from December 7th to 14th, with countrywide collections on Sunday, December 14th.
Separately, the Northside Partnership, which runs initiatives in north Dublin, has expressed concern that people on the margins are being worst hit in the economic downturn.
Partnership chairman Willie Hamilton said the worst-affected "are not the people with bank borrowings and hefty mortgages", but were people "who are simply trying to get by and make something of themselves and they deserve a chance".
He was speaking at the launch of a six-year review of the partnership's activities.
What they said
"The SVP food and coal vouchers are hugely important to me. They are the difference between having hot water and cold water in the house."
- Susan, a lone parent on a low income.
"We helped one woman to get driving lessons so she could bring her autistic son out and about with the rest of the family. Small things can make a big difference."
- Loreto Moriarty, a St Vincent de Paul volunteer.
"I have four children and am rearing them on my own. The SVP has helped each one of them. My son just graduated from college and he got support all the way. One of my daughters has special needs. The SVP arranged for extra lessons and for outings for her."
- Ann
"People can be isolated because of mental illness. We call on Rita regularly and bring her Ireland's Own. I sent her a postcard from my recent visit to Fatima. It meant a lot to have a note coming through the letterbox."
- Sr de Lourdes, a volunteer
