American Women's Club of Dublin

Philanthropy

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:
  • Nourishing Meals
  • Shower and Laundry Facilities
  • Counselling Services
  • Literacy Classes
  • Art and Pottery Classes

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

2008 WH Five Loaves
2007 Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
2006 Action Breast Cancer
2005 The Alzheimer Society
2004 Laura Lynn Children's Hospice
2003 Carmona National Special School, Setanta Special School for Autistic, The Sapling School for Children with Autism
2002
ALONE
2001
Debra Ireland, Epidemolysis Bullosa
2000
Irish Association for Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus
1999
Irish Hospice Foundation
1998
Women's Refuge
1997
Diabetes Research Fund, Mater & St. Vincent's Hospitals
1996
Irish Cancer Society
1995
Sherrard House
1994
Barretstown Gang Camp, Irish Hospice Foundation
1993
Barretstown Gang Camp, St. Vincent de Paul
1992
Special Olympics, The Richmond Cheshire Home
1991
Anne Sullivan Foundation, G. B. Shaw Trust
1990
ALONE, Cystic Fibrosis, AWCD Philanthropic Fud
1989
Spina Bifida
1988
ALONE, rosmini, Temple Street Children's Hospital
1987
St. Luke's Hospital
1986
Friedrich's Ataxia
1985
Rape Crisis Centre
1984
Multiple Sclerosis
1983
Our Lady's Hospice
1982
Suddent Infant Death
1981
ALONE
1980
Women's Aid
1979
Rotunda Hospital
1978
Cerebral Palsy
1977
Cystic Fibrosis
1976
St. Augustine's
1975
Madonna House
1974
Downs Syndrome

 

 
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