A Cork supermarket has been praised for its kind-hearted commitment to help those in the local community who may find Christmas a "difficult time of year."
Garvey's SuperValu in Cobh are planning to be there for locals who are "finding it tough to make ends meet" this winter. They have arranged to deliver food packages to those who may be struggling this Christmas.
Lauded a "brilliant gesture" by many, the store wrote an open letter on Twitter to tell customers that they "want to assure you that we are here for you this Christmas," CorkBeo reports.
READ MORE: Garda in hospital after being kicked and punched in horrific group attack outside Ballyfermot pub
"We understand that Christmas can be a difficult time of year financially for many people in our Cobh community.
"If you're finding it tough to make ends meet and need some help this Christmas, please drop us a message and our team can arrange for a simple discretionary Food/Christmas package to be dropped at your door. It will be entirely confidential.
"Please don't hesitate to ask for help."
Garvey's did a similar initiative last Christmas, but with a spiralling cost of living crisis continuing to affect so many this year, it's a welcome gesture again.
The generous offer has been praised by both fellow local businesses and shoppers alike.
"Now that's how you build brand awareness, customer loyalty, deliver much-needed assistance and joy, concurrently. Garvey's Supervalu Cobh, thank you. Let's hope where you lead, many more will follow," wrote one person,
Another added: "It would do your heart good, to see this. Fair play to Garvey’s SuperValu."
Cork business O'Flynn's Gourmet Sausage Company said it was "great stuff" while Dublin furniture icon Mattress Mick added: "A really nice gesture. Cheers."
Many added they hope other shops will follow the Cobh SuperValu's lead in helping those in need, and join the hundreds of volunteers across Co Cork who'll do their bit to make sure everyone has enough this Christmas.
In Cork city, the volunteers of Cork Penny Dinners will provide a hot meal to hundreds on the big day under their motto "We never judge, we serve". Last year, they served almost 700 on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day - a number that has more than tripled over the past two years.
Christmas remains a time of great want but also great service for the people who come to Penny Dinners and the scores of volunteers who help them with everything from a hot meal or a bag of toiletries to housing, budgeting and employment advice.
Caitriona Twomey, the admirable woman who runs Penny Dinners said: "Christmas can be very difficult, we see parents who are desperate to make it happy for their children, we try to help them, and often it's the parents who need it most because they are the ones who will bear all of the pressure."
Feed Cork, the city's only food bank, will also be there to help their clients this Christmas. With nearly 2,000 individual names registered with the food bank, founder Hamp Sirmans said the cost of living crisis means his team are seeing more people turn to the food bank than ever.
Feed Cork is "always open." In the run up to Christmas he said they will be just as busy making sure their regulars get the food they need.
On Christmas Eve, volunteers will deliver meals prepared by their partner, the Cork-based Brook Foods catering company, to hundreds of families across Cork who may not have had a special Christmas meal otherwise. Last year, they delivered around 650 individual meals on Christmas Eve.
With a "100 per cent increase in people coming" to Feed Cork, the team are estimating that their volunteers will be delivering significantly more this year.
READ NEXT:
- Kilkenny crash latest - teen girl 'remains critical'
- Vicky Phelan's father tells of "beautiful tributes" to hero daughter
- George Hook hangs up mic for good as former Newstalk host heads back to the classroom
- Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi blow football world away in stunning picture together
- Hundreds gather in East Wall, Dublin to protest housing of 'male-only' asylum seekers in former ESB site
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
