"We put food on the table, heat in the home and help children remain in school. But we need additional professional help to tackle the new problems, such as large debt, which is an increasing issue for many who come to us for help".
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Mairead giving interview to TG3's TV AM |
"Our presence in homes, hospitals, shops and other places, brings reassurance to those we serve, but we are volunteers with neither the skills nor the capacity to solve all of the problems of those in huge debt or in psychological distress brought on by the loss of their jobs or the shortage of money. With calls for assistance up by over a third in many areas, we are facing a critical challenge and must step up our fund-raising and recruitment".
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Over 700 Vincentians attended the Society's 120th national meeting of presidents in Croke Park, Dublin on Saturday 17th October 2009.
The theme of the meeting was "Serving with Heart and Mind". During the event our national President, Mairéad Bushnell, used the opportunity to appeal to Government to help address the increase in problems caused by the current economic crisis. The SVP is experiencing a huge level of extra calls for assistance from people in serious financial difficulties.
"Does anyone in Government know or understand the plight of people every day? Does anyone care?"
"Every new proposal or suggestion to solve our economic problems targets low and middle income earners. At the same time money can be found to bail out the banks and pay huge salaries and bonuses", Mairéad said.
She outlined how the changed economic circumstances are affecting the social situation. Volunteers were, on a daily basis, meeting people who were crumbling under large debts and faced despair in trying to make ends meet.
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Mairéad Bushnell |
Northern representatives |
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Many presidents and members from the northern region attended the event. Whilst the economic downturn has been bad in the UK and Northern Ireland, they heard at first hand how devastating its effects have been on the population in the south of Ireland.
This helped serve as a grim warning of what could happen in Northern Ireland if the economic downturn in the UK continues to deteriorate further.
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