The special Church collection for COPE Galway takes place this weekend, 24th / 25th September 2022. There is an envelope in the parish envelope box for this collection, but for anybody not using the parish envelope system, you are welcome to use any envelope and mark ‘COPE Galway’ on it, and leave it in the offertory basket or put it in the door of either parish office or the Parochial House in Kinvara.

In a letter to the parishes, COPE outlines the services provided:

‘The proceeds of the Church plate collection go directly to supporting COPE Galway’s homeless, domestic abuse and senior support services in Galway city and county…

• Our domestic abuse service provided safety and support for 696 women and children in Galway city and county. 117 women and 128 children were supported with refuge accommodation; we provided 1,431 outreach appointments and supported 68 children and young people through Solas Óg, our children’s domestic abuse service.
• 1,316 adults and children who were homeless or at risk of homelessness received support from COPE Galway’s homeless services. These services included the provision of emergency accommodation, assistance with health, education and advice, and day services such as meals and laundry to individuals and families.
• Our senior support service produced and delivered almost 70,000 meals to older people and helped address social isolation through our community support and day centre projects. Through the FEAD programme, we helped support over 2,798 individuals at risk of food poverty.’