Enable Ireland appeals to people of Kilkenny as it is forced to close local store

Enable Ireland is appealing to the people of Kilkenny to help them raise funds after they were forced to temporarily close their 21 charity shops, including its shop on St Kieran’s Street, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The charity is now facing a potential loss of €1.5 million income in 2020 and is asking members of the public who are at home during the outbreak, to take some time to de-clutter their wardrobes and homes and get ready to donate their unwanted items to Enable Ireland once their shops re-open.

You can support Enable Ireland by shopping on their online charity shop www.enableireland.ie/shoponline or donate online at www.enableireland.ie/donate.

Enable Ireland is a national charity which employs 1,200 staff and provides disability services to over 8,500 children and adult with disabilities in 15 counties.

Enable Ireland Kilkenny was established in 1980 as a support group for parents of children with cerebral palsy.

They now provide a range of vital therapy and support services to children with disabilities and their families from the O’Neill Centre, St. Josephs Road and their newly refurbished respite house in Tullow, Co Carlow.

Like many frontline healthcare workers, Enable Ireland staff in Kilkenny are continuing to support people with disabilities during the Covid-19 epidemic.

Dedicated Enable Ireland staff are providing essential residential, respite, community living and family support, in a way that is safe for all.

“Where we can’t provide face to face support, our staff are finding creative and innovative ways to deliver clinical and therapy support for children and their families in key areas like physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy,” said Niall Horgan, Enable Ireland Director of Services Cork, Kerry and Kilkenny.

“We’ve delivered therapy sessions via video and provided home support programmes over email or in some cases hand delivered support packs to people’s homes.

“The ongoing contact and support are vital at a time when many people with disabilities are feeling very anxious and vulnerable to Covid-19. We are using technologies like Facebook groups and video conferencing to stay connected and provide supports.”

Pictured: Volunteer Tracy Cullen visits an Enable Ireland respite house