Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin launches second food appeal

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has appealed to people in parishes to donate food to meet a demand which is even greater now than was the case last year.

For a second year, he has asked all Dublin’s Catholic parishes to help collect food over the coming week so it can be supplied to those in need by Christmas.

People will be able to bring food items to churches and parish centres at weekend Mass times next Saturday and Sunday. This will be collected by the archdiocese's social care agency Crosscare and redistributed to those most in need.

The appeal was formally made by Archbishop Martin on Monday at Crosscare's first food bank on Dublin's Portland Row. The first ever such food appeal by the archbishop was made last year.

Since then demand for basic food items has increased so much that another significant effort is needed.