*Photograph: Joe Buckley
SHANNON’S COMMUNITY POLICING UNIT in tandem with local businesses dropped off Christmas meals to senior citizens across the town, Sixmilebridge, Cratloe and Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Over 270 meals, cards and gifts were delivered to the elderly and vulnerable personnel, this due to the generous support from the local business community and schools. The cards were written by primary school students in the locality.
Meals were cooked at the Shannon College of Hotel Management by students on a voluntary basis. Gardaí based at Shannon Garda Station dropped off the meals over the past week.
Front Row: Siobhan Ryan, Ailish Hanley, Supt John Galvin, Sgt John Stauton, Gda Suzanne C
A Christmas afternoon was held on Monday afternoon at the Goalpost Bar, home of Wolfe Tones GAA club.
Community Garda, Ailish Hanley remarked of the initiative, “They will see a friendly face and will get something they want from the Gardaí as opposed to a summons”.
New ways of connecting with the community were explored during the pandemic, Insp Paul Slattery outlined. “With the cold spell we’ve had, people are reluctant to step out because of the freezing temperatures, we’re calling to the doors, talking to the people that are there, we’re delivering a hot meal and a present, we’re reengaging with those people and letting them know there is a voice and face behind the Gardaí”.
Insp Slattery added, “There is nothing more heart warming than getting a smile, a hug, a wink, a sincere handshake from the people that receive these gifts from the communities”.
