Empty Plate Appeal - Eurospars in Donegal get behind SVP this Christmas

The financial challenges facing families this Christmas have been well documented, with nearly one-third of all calls received each year by the St Vincent de Paul (SVP) a request for food

Four Donegal Eurospar Supermarkets have signed up to support the SVP Empty Plate Appeal, which will help reduce the chances of a child going hungry this festive season. Throughout the campaign all in-store donations will be repatriated within local communities so those most in need this Christmas don’t do without.

While shopping in in McClafferty’s Eurospar Gortahork, Kee’s Eurospar Laghey, Kernan’s Eurospar Newtowncunningham and Whoriskey’s Eurospar Ramelton, shoppers are asked to place any non-perishable items in the trolley or receptacle designated for the Empty Plate Appeal. 

All in-store donations are distributed within the local community and, this year, as an additional measure, these Eurospar SuperEasy Supermarkets will be making an additional donation from own-brand sales in store.

The campaign is taking place through Christmas and into early New Year. In order to allay any concerns around the distribution and transferral of food, all contributions will be converted to their monetary value in Eurospar vouchers at the end of the campaign. The vouchers will then be given to the local SVP Conference.

Malachy Hanberry, EUROSPAR Managing Director said: “These Eurospar retailers have a long tradition of supporting charities and those most vulnerable in our society. Christmas is a time for giving and for generosity and their facilitating of this fundraising initiative, as well as the additional donations from own-brand sales in stores, for the St Vincent de Paul is another example of their commitment to the communities they serve.”

 SVP is currently receiving on average 1,200 requests for help every day. One in three of these is in relation to people who do not have enough food.

SVP National President Rose McGowan said: “We are extremely grateful to the Eurospar stores and staff for the effort they are putting into this great fundraising initiative.

"It is a great way to provide their customers with an opportunity to help so many people in the local communities in which their stores are based.

"Unfortunately, the effects of the cost-of-living crisis has impacted many families and individuals around the country, and calls to SVP asking for assistance have increased 20% year-on-year. SVP volunteers are worried they will struggle to meet this demand going into winter and Christmas time.

"It is through initiatives such as the Eurospar Empty Plate campaign that we are able to provide help to so many and we urge those in the communities served by Eurospar shops to support it.”