Helpline receives 300+ calls
A freephone helpline on Leeside has received more than 300 calls since it first began operating over a week ago.
The majority of calls to the helpline have related to the collection and delivery of groceries, prescriptions, fuel and other essential household items and the delivery of meals.
The Cork City Council Community Response Forum (CRF) helpline, aimed at supporting vulnerable residents, operates seven days a week from 8am-8pm.
Cork City Council staff, the HSE, An Garda Siochána and community organisations such as Meals on Wheels are amongst the partner groups who are responding to these requests for support.
Requests for support due to an increasing sense of social isolation have also figured in phonecalls received, with a number of people experiencing loneliness as they stay at home.
The CRF can put residents in contact with Friendly Call Cork who provide a listening ear and a friendly voice on the phone to anyone experiencing loneliness.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr John Sheehan said: “We are delighted to see that the people of Cork are using this helpline and we would encourage people, who maybe have never asked for help before, to not be afraid to pick up the phone.
“These are unprecedented times for us all but don’t forget we are all in this together and we will likely come out the other side with a deeper appreciation of the important things in life and that includes living in a city which is rich in community supports and community spirit.”
Cork city has been broken into 16 local area teams with a Cork City Council community worker and HSE community worker in each area who will work with existing voluntary organisations and groups who know the locality and can help match need with service delivery.
One of the 16 is the Glanmire Community Response team which includes David O’Brien from the city council and Elaine McKoy, who will act as the HSE lead.
Noel Fitzgerald, community garda as well as Cynthia Kelleher, Ann Holland, Eamonn Creech, Peter Falvey, Aidan J Linehan and Lorraine O' Neill are all on the Glanmire team.
The community response for all of the city is 1800-222226 or alternatively call Lorraine O'Neil on 086-8046314 or Cynthia Kelleher on 087 -211214 for help in the Glanmire area.
The Cork City Community Call telephone number is 1800-222226 or you can email covidsupport@corkcity.ie if you require support.
Several people have also contacted the helpline asking how they could register to volunteer their service in this crisis. Would-be volunteers are asked to contact Volunteer Cork on 021-4251572, Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm or on info@volunteercork.ie.