Walk 2007

The proposed route is
Strokestown (depart 2pm Saturday)
Tarmonbarry
Longford (depart 11:30am Sunday)
Edgeworthstown
Rathowen
Ballinalack
Multyfarnham (depart 10am Monday)
Mullingar
Coralstown
Kinnegad (depart 10am Tuesday)
Clonard
Moyvalley
Enfield
Kilcock
Maynooth (depart 10am Wednesday)
Leixlip
Lucan
Palmerstown
Chapelizod
Dublin - 'Day Centre for Homeless People' (arriving 3pm Wednesday)

On Saturday, 1st September 2007, Joan McNevin and Paddy Pender will set off from Strokestown and walk to the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin, arriving on Wednesday, 6th September 2007 - total of 92 miles (148km).

The aim of the walk is to raise awareness about the issue homelessness by walking from town to town, trusting the kindness of those they meet to respond to their need for drinks, snacks and places to rest. They will have nothing with them but a change of clothes! If you live on this route, please support their effort by offering water, food and maybe a place to rest.

'…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…' (Mt 25:35)

You can offer your own support to Joan and Paddy by walking a mile with them along the route, or by encouraging them with a wave, a smile or a flash of your car headlights - or you could transfer their bags to the next overnight stop!!

"Inspired by the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, we at the Capuchin Day Centre welcome people in need of food aid who have no home or are socially excluded and respecting their dignity, provide a caring, pastoral, holistic and non judgmental service responsive to their needs."

(Mission Statement)

Who we are? - The Centre was founded by Br Kevin Crowley in the early 1970's as a Capuchin response to the problem of homelessness with the simple objective 'to relieve the hardship endured by homeless people'

What we do? - For over thirty years the Capuchin Day Centre, (run by the Irish Capuchin Franciscan Order) has been providing hot meals, food parcels, clothing and day care facilities for homeless and needy people, six days a week, completely free of charge. The Centre operates from the rear of the Capuchin Friary in Church Street, Dublin 7.

Meals Service - Monday to Saturday inclusive

Morning Soup, Bread, Tea and Sandwiches : 150 people x 6 days = 900 per week
Afternoon Full Dinner : 350 people x 6 days = 2,100 per week

Food Parcels Wednesday morning 500 parcels = 500 per week

Funding - We need approximately €250,000 a year for food.
While we are grateful for government funding that covers most of our administrative expenses, we are dependent on the kindness of the public to cover the food costs that amounted to €180,000 for 2003.
Because the Centre cannot afford to hire professional fundraisers, we are doubly grateful for the voluntary efforts of kind people who undertake fundraising events on our behalf.

Thank You - On behalf of the needy people who attend the Day Centre and the Irish Capuchin Franciscan Order, I take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers and our financial supporters who help keep this lifeline for the homeless in operation. May God and St. Francis reward you all with many blessings.

Bro. Kevin.

On 1st September, Joan McNevin and Paddy Pender will set out from Strokestown and make their way on foot to the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin. Joan and Paddy work in the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless Persons in the Inner City of Dublin. On a daily basis, Joan prepares food for the hundreds of men, women and children who avail of the hot meals. Paddy co-ordinates the volunteers as they work alongside the fulltime staff in providing the services each and every week of the year.

The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness about the problem of homelessness in Ireland today. It is hard to believe that such as service as this is still essential in the 21st century, but the numbers attending for help are increasing rather than decreasing.

Observing and listening to the clients reveals that many had jobs when they first came to Dublin, but have lost the jobs for a wide variety of reasons. For others, they only know life on the streets and still others have drifted from broken relationships into homelessness. The clients come from every part of Ireland, and further afield. No one is too young or too old to find themselves without a home to call their own.

Joan and Paddy are undertaking the walk without fixed accommodation for the five days they are on the road. They are relying on the generosity of the people on their route to provide drinks, food and lodgings as they make their way from Strokestown to Dublin through Longford (overnight stay), Multyfarnan (overnight stay), Kinnegad (overnight stay) and Maynooth (overnight stay).

Joan and Paddy encourage people to come out and walk with them as they make their way through the towns and villages. They are also hoping that anyone wishing to make a donation will feel free do so. Finally, a message to motorists: please drive carefully along this route between 1st September and 5th September. These city girls are used to footpaths and very slow grid-lock!!!!!