Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
A TOTAL of 10,000 information leaflets, including details of the new freephone number and other information, will be distributed around the county over the coming days.
This will be done through existing networks like the Kerry Public Participation Network, sporting organisations, local development companies and hundreds of community and voluntary groups across the county.
Niamh O’Sullivan, Head of Kerry County Council’s Community Department, said the group wants to harness the energy and generosity of people who have come forward to offer support to people in the community who require assistance and advice.
“The aim is to ensure that a coordinated, safe and reliable volunteer support network is available to those in need and that people in need of that assistance know who to contact for advice,” she said,
“Our work will complement much of the voluntary work which already taking place in communities across Kerry,” Ms O’Sullivan added.
Hillary Scanlan, Community Work Manager with the HSE, said there is a very long and proud history of voluntary and community activity in Kerry and also a strong commitment from the state agencies to work in partnership with communities to develop local responses to unmet need.
“The community and voluntary sector has again stepped up to respond to the current Covid-19 crisis and ensure that basic needs of food, fuel, and medications are being provided,” she said.
Chief Superintendent Eileen Foster of the Kerry Garda Division remarked: “We are here to reassure and support the community during the weeks ahead. We are working with other agencies as one for the benefit of all.”
Included in the COVID-19 Kerry Community Response Forum are:
- Health Service Executive
- Kerry County Council
- An Garda Síochána
- Kerry Red Cross
- Kerry Civil Defence
- Kerry Volunteer Centre
- North East and West Kerry Development
- South Kerry Development Partnership
- IRD Duhallow
- Kerry GAA
- Kerry Public Participation Network
- Kerry Age Friendly Network
- Local Link Kerry
- St Vincent de Paul Society
- Kerry IFA
- Citizens Information Service
- Other community, voluntary and sports representatives
The group came together to complement and reinforce the tremendous work already underway across the county as communities respond to the needs of the community and it aims to ensure that any gaps in existing provision can be addressed and coordinated centrally.
The group is asking members of the public to share the phone number with elderly or vulnerable neighbours.
© KillarneyToday.com is the 24/7 online news service provided by O’Mahony Media
Advertise to ensure your message reaches more than 19,000 readers every day, with over 300,000 viewers every month and close on 24,000 followers on Facebook
