Helping the 'Hane community
Community spirit is all around Ballyphehane as the area continues to help people during this Covid-19 outbreak.
Local community and voluntary groups are working within the newly-established Cork City Community Response Forum (CRF) helping many people from all walks of life.
Ballyphehane/Togher Community Development Project (CDP) is making twice weekly check in phone calls to up to 160 older people, people with disabilities and to families who normally use their early year services. Staff from their community crèche, An Cliabhán, have also dropped games and books to local families to help counter cabin fever. The CDP is also running online yoga classes via WhatsApp so that vulnerable people can remain active at home.
It is also distributing up to 30 food boxes a week to local individuals and families. Furthermore, Meals on Wheels at Ballyphehane Community Centre continues to deliver hot food to the homes of scores of older people every day.
Ballyphehane Ladies GAA is linking up with Ryan’s SuperValu in Togher to make grocery deliveries while Centra in Togher and Ballyphehane has also worked with local groups to overcome the challenges facing vulnerable people.
Across Ballyphehane, prescriptions are being collected regularly from local chemists, dogs walked for people who can’t leave their homes and pensions collected by members of the CRF.
Calls to the CRF helpline included one from a woman who was cocooning in Turner’s Cross and needed electrical help, while another person needed a window fixed. Both were worried about the risk of allowing someone in to their home. The CRF stepped in to provide these vital repair services. Other calls included one from a man who was cocooning alone and had difficulty getting regular milk and fresh bread deliveries.
Cork City Council CRF lead in Ballyphehane, Geraldine Sutton said: “We’re seeing all the local organisations and services working really well together to meet local needs – with help now being given to meet ongoing needs.”
Cork City CRF Champion and Project Co-Ordinator at Ballyphehane/Togher CDP, Siobhán O’Dowd said: “We are all working for the most vulnerable at this time and we are asking people to make contact with us if they need help. It’s is heartening to see the whole of city wider response that the Covid-19 CRF has brought about.”