A Dublin food bank has been left "in shock" after they were told by Dublin City Council to stop their operations.
The D8 Food Bank has served people living in food poverty in the Liberties since 2020. Demand for food has grown significantly in recent months and the group is helping an estimated 300 people per week.
Volunteers Fran, Margaret, Vivienne, Phyllis, Lily, Maura, Rachel, Mary, Dasha and Svitlana are now coming together five days a week, with the support of FoodCloud, due to the increased demand. They have provided their services outside near the old Coombe Hospital since February due to no longer having access to an indoor venue.
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Speaking to Dublin Live, Fran said that a member of Dublin City Council visited the food bank this week and told them they would need to cease their outdoor operations. They are now in the process of setting up a meeting with Dublin City Council to try and resolve the situation.
"It's disgraceful." Fran said. "I just don't get (the Council's) logic with this. It boggles my mind.
"We're getting new people everyday. Some days we don't have enough food and we have to turn people away. That's the way it's gone.
"The people are very grateful for it, they really are. We have great support from the local businesses and all of the people around."
Those queuing for the food bank today called for the service to stay open. One person told us: "Fair play to these people. Only for them helping us through the pandemic, we wouldn't be here today.
"And they're voluntary as well. They help everyone as best they can. Please God I hope they get left here."
Many Ukrainian refugees staying in the area have used the food bank over the past year and have also worked as volunteers with the group. They wrote an open letter to the community pleading for support to help keep the D8 Food Bank open.
"We are now appealing to you to support the food bank and prevent it from closing down," they wrote. "They have been helping a large number of people in need and we are grateful for their services.
"It is important to keep the food bank open, so that they can continue their work and help more people that are in need."
A spokesman for Dublin City Council told Dublin Live: "The South West Inner City Local Area Office intends to engage with this group and has reached out via a number of channels in an effort to bring matters to a resolution. We have no further comment to make at this time."
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