Annmarie raises over €560 for Meals on Wheels

It was a busy morning in the Annebrook House Hotel on Thursday last, where a Coffee Morning in aid of St Dominic's Meals on Wheels was taking place.

Organised by Annmarie McEvoy, who in November completed 200,000 steps in aid of the cause, said "That equals 10 miles or 16km," adding that it gave her great pleasure to hand over the proceeds from her fundraising efforts, a sum of over €560, (as the proceeds from the raffle still had to be counted) to Brid Galligan, secretary of St Dominic's Meals on Wheels.

"As a member of St Brigid's School for a long time, working with Bob Keating, retired principal and now volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels, I also did Meals on Wheels myself in the past when I worked with the Health Board," began Annmarie, "And it gave me great pleasure delivering dinners and meeting so many different people down through the years, it's a fantastic organisation," she said.

Brid Galligan, secretary with St Dominic's Meals on Wheels, said she has been been with the organisation for almost ten years, and says the local people of Mullingar are "great for supporting us."

"I joined for the simple reason that my own mother lived in the middle of the country, she couldn't drive and when my dad died she couldn't get to places. So we had to organise someone to make a meal for her because there was no Meals on Wheels available in her area.

"Meals on Wheels started off in Ballinderry, Mullingar, and then about 25 years ago they decided that they'd expand it and build a purpose-built building - St Dominic's Community Council on College Street and we operate from there.

"We have about four or five people who come in very early in the morning to prepare the meals, and we have around 50 volunteers drivers, who deliver all around Mullingar, Castlepollard, Delvin, Killucan, Kilbeggan, and Ballynacargy," she explains.

"We distribute roughly 200 meals, consisting of dinner and a small dessert, for a small charge, otherwise we couldn't operate. We get a lot of donations from the people of Mullingar and its surrounds, the local people are fantastic for supporting us.

"We get donations from individuals like Annemarie, from the likes of the Rotary Club, and from people who've had family who benefited from the service," says Brid, who adds that the organisation holds two annual collections, a Church Gate collection in May or June, and a town collection.

"We get a certain amount of money from the HSE, who recommend the clients to us, and sometimes it's just for a short time, if someone has a hip or a knee operation, Meals on Wheels comes in very handy.

"The volunteers are great, they give an hour out of their week, and they do it all free gratis. And the people using the service are very happy to see someone arrive to them because sometimes they live on their own, and the volunteers get to know people on their route too."

Annemarie thanked "the people of Mullingar for being so generous".

"I'd like to thank Tommy Nally for sponsoring me; the Annebrook Hotel for laying on tea, coffee and refreshments, and we have to give a special thanks to Bob Keating who is a volunteer driver with Meals on Wheels and a former colleague of mine for supporting me today.

"I have to thank my friend Breda Hussey, who is involved with the Hospice but is here to support Meals on Wheels today and is selling her Mullingar themed Christmas cards; and the people of Mullingar for being so generous, they are unbelievable, as well as Tom Birmingham, Wines Direct, Oscar's Restaurant, Pasta Bella, Teresa Nixon for their generous support in the raffle spot prizes."