Walk 2008

Aedin joins Joan and Paddy in Strokestown at the start of "Walk 2007".

Please feel free to download a sponsorship form and help raise funds for our Day Centre - many thanks

If you would like to make a donation towards the walk effort, please do so

1) Postal donations to "Walk 2008", Br. Kevin Crowley OFM Cap, Capuchin Day Centre, 29 Bow Street, Dublin 7

2) Through Bank of Ireland account number 82128752;
Sort Code 90-00-92
for "Capuchin Day Centre Walk 2008"

Walk to Raise Awareness about Homelessness 2008

Phone Number 8720770

"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 2nd August, Joan McNevin and Paddy Pender will set out from Donegal Town and make their way on foot to Boyle in Co. Roscommon. They will continue by road to the outskrts of Dublin and walk to the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin on Tuesday 5th August. Joan and Paddy work in the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless Persons in the Inner City of Dublin. On a daily basis, Joan is part of a team looking after the needs of the hundreds of men, women and children who avail of the hot meals, medical and nursing services. 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 Donegal Town to Boyle and from Meakstown to the Capuchin Day Centre.

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 2nd August and 5th August. These city girls are used to footpaths and very slow grid-lock!!!!!

Credit card donations online.
Please type (Walk 2008) immediately after your name on the opening screen.

Previous Walks

2004 Knock to Clonmacnoise
2005 Kilkenny to Dublin
2006 Monaghan to Dublin
2007 Strokestown to Dublin

The proposed route is
Donegal Town (depart 11am Saturday)
Assaroe View
Bundoran
depart Bundoran 11:30am Sunday
Cliffony
Grange
Sligo
depart Sligo 10am Monday
Boyle
depart Meakstown 10am Tuesday
Dublin - 'Day Centre for Homeless People' (arriving 12noon Tuesday)

Aedin joins Joan and Paddy for the first leg of their walk from Strokestown in September 2007

On Saturday, 2nd August 2008, Joan McNevin and Paddy Pender will set off from Donegal Town and walk to Boyle in Co. Roscommon, arriving on Monday, 4th August. They will return to the outskirts of Dublin by road and walk to the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin, arriving on Tuesday, 5th August 2008 - total of 70 miles.

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!!