24.02.2015
The Dining Room Celebrates First Birthday and Marks Year of Serving the Community
The Dining Room is officially one year old today – February 24. The outreach project of Christ Church, Dun Laoghaire is celebrating its first anniversary all this week with many visitors coming to the parish hall to see what developments have taken place over the past 12 months.
The project is supported by teams of volunteers from all walks of life who provide a hot home cooked lunch to homeless people, the elderly and those experiencing food poverty and loneliness.
The Dining Room was the brainchild of the Vicar of Christ Church, Dun Laoghaire, the Revd Ása Bjork Ólafsdottir who is delighted with the way the first year has gone. “What a year it has been, lots of new friends, lots of interesting food, healthier patrons, and a true sense of the community working together,” she commented.
She paid tribute to all the volunteers and all who donate food to the project. They have seen people blossom in the Dining Room and some people who had been patrons have become volunteers.
Yesterday, as the celebrations got underway, Archbishop Michael Jackson dropped in for lunch. Also present were local public representatives including Cllrs Patricia Stewart and Mary Fayne and Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor.
Cllr Stewart outlined plans for a new premises for a community café in Dun Laoghaire which would be open daily and for longer hours. The parish hall can only accommodate the Dining Room for three lunchtimes each week.
The need for such a fa cility was identified by the local policing forum some time ago, the councillor stated. Ása, who is now a member of the policing forum, also saw the need for somewhere for people to go and set about establishing the Dining Room. She plans to retain a presence with the new venture and ensure that the ethos that has been nutured at the Dining Room is maintained.
The Dining Room is open for lunch between 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. All are welcome to drop in.
Photo captions:
Top – The Revd Ása Bjork Ólafsdottir, Cllr Patricia Steward, Tony McCarthy (volunteer) and Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor.
Bottom – Cllr Mary Fayne and volunteer Terry Merry.