Pictured: Brian Gillen, Westmeath Civil Defence and Michelle Smith, Westmeath Community Development

Brian Gillen , Westmeath Civil Defence and Michelle Smith, Westmeath Community Development checking the goodies that have just arrived in Civil Defence offices in Mullingar.

In this most unusual of years, 1,000 households in Westmeath will be receiving some Christmas cheer before the big day, all part of the Westmeath Keep Well Campaign.

“Westmeath Community Development has been an active participant in the Community Response in Westmeath since last March” said Michelle. “In the earlier part of the year our staff were volunteering for the shopping and other errands for people in need all over the county, and we have continued our work supporting the community response since then”.

“Our latest venture is part of the Westmeath Keep Well campaign, and along with Westmeath County Council and Civil Defence and host of other community and voluntary groups we felt that a little goodie bag to some of our isolated and vulnerable households would be a welcome surprise just before Christmas. “

Anne Campbell, WCD, packing car with goodie bags 

  Rosie McCormack, WCD, Delivering to Patrick OMahony

And what will each household receive?  

“Where to start ! “ laughed Michelle, “Westmeath County Council are providing chocolates, Christmas decorations, diaries, sanitiser, soaps and other items, while the HSE through the Food and Health Programme run by WCD are providing non perishables foodstuffs , along with dietary suggestions from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute and application forms for our Befriending Service run under SICAP”. 

For Brian Gillen and his team in Civil Defence, he says you “should be careful what you wish for!”, seeing pallets and boxes arriving into the Mullingar HQ of Civil Defence!

“No, we are delighted to be able to play our part, separating the deliverers  into bags, and getting the bags out to the different community organisations around the county who will get them to those most in need in their own communities – even if our HQ resembles Santa’s workshop at the moment!”

Commenting on the activity, Frank Murtagh, CEO said “the Community Response Forum has been very effective in Westmeath and we in WCD are very proud to be able to play our part.  WCD, through our various programmes and our enthusiastic  staff are delighted that the Keep Well Campaign in Westmeath has got off to such a positive start, with plenty more activities being planned for early 2021.”

The ‘Keep Well’ campaign aims to support people and communities in being resilient through minding their physical and mental health and wellbeing over the coming months.

For further information on the Keep Well Campaign go to https://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/ourservices/yourcouncil/keepwell/ and remember that Community Response Help line number, 1800815816 if you are in need of support.

http://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/ourservices/yourcouncil/councilnews/keepwellcampaign.html