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AWCD Charity for 2008/2009 is WH FIVE LOAVES, a drop-in center for the homeless and marginalized people in Bray, County Wicklow. "We believe in the inherent dignity of every person, proactively addressing and meeting the needs of the homeless and disadvantaged, in a spirit of compassion and hospitality, with the hope of making a difference in their lives." (Mission Statement of Five Loaves) Overview of WH Five Loaves Following some research and responding to local problems, an acute need for a drop-in center for the homeless and marginalized people was identified. After locating an old workshop and converting it to the required standards, at a cost of 90,000.00 Euros, the doors of WH Five Loaves opened in February 2004.
The centre opens five days a week (Monday to Friday), 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM, and it is our intention to extend opening times. The primary purpose is to facilitate the needs of both the homeless and the "at risk" people in our communtiy by providing the following:
On average thirty people frequent the centre daily with some seeking accommodations. While we cannot offer accommodations on site, we endeavour and are usually successful in our attempts to find emergency shelter for those in need. At present, we are refurnishing an old house for this purpose. Poverty is about exclusion and loss of dignity and although our aims are met in assisting and encouraging our service users by trying to help them break out of this cycle, our goal is to provide some of them with a basic human right which is a roof over their heads. Our plans are to provide training and eduction in a supported housing programme in order to help them have stability and structure in their lives, which will eventually help them move on to an independent way of life. In addition, we provide information on welfare rights, mental health services and link up with other specialists services. The operating cost of the project are approximately 12,000.00 per month and although we have received some financial assistance from the Health Service Executive, we rely on income from fundraising events and donations to enable us to keep our doors open to the less well off in our society. We are currently working on refurbishing a Transitional House, which should be open in the Fall of 2008. For this House, we need funds for refurbishing; setting up a security system; personnel to manage house and daily costs. We support ourselves mainly through your generous charitable contributions; any small donation would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions, please contact me Claire of WH Five Loaves at:
01 204 0960 (office)
The AWCD - A Long History of Giving Back to the Community
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