| Don't forget your neighbours |
|
Clare Volunteer Centre urges members of the public to reach out to their neighbours
VOLUNTEER CENTRES IRELAND has once again urged members of the public to reach out to their older neighbours during the cold spell to make sure that they are OK.
Temperatures are expected to plummet to below -10 this week and Met Eireann has warned they cannot predict how long the coldspell will last.
Older people are particularly vulnerable during periods of ice and snow with many older people becoming trapped in their own homes as they fear slipping and falling in the icy conditions.
Yvonne McKenna, CEO of Volunteer Centres Ireland said: ‘You don’t have to be affiliated with a voluntary organisation to help older people you know during winter. Just ring your neighbour’s doorbell to check that they are mobile - perhaps offer to fetch their groceries and ensure that their heating is working.’
Meanwhile Ireland’s network of volunteer centres has seen a surge of interest in volunteering opportunities in the run up to Christmas.
“Many people are encouraged to volunteer at Christmas, but much like the floods last summer, this spell of bad weather is bringing out the best in local communities around Ireland,” said McKenna.
Anyone interested in some festive volunteering should contact their local volunteer centre or visit www.volunteer.ie
|
