5 July 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
On a cold winter’s night two years ago, young Ballincollig mother Christina Chalmers posted on her Facebook “Please join me in helping Cork’s Homeless”. Some 60 volunteers responded and now, on an ongoing basis, they help those sleeping rough around the city with hot food, blankets, clothing and most importantly of all, human contact and friendship.
To mark this voluntary work, the founder and leader of “Please join me in helping Cork’s Homeless”, Christina Chalmers, has received a Cork Person of Month award and her name will go forward for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year at a Gala Awards Lunch on 20th January 2017 at the Rochestown Park Hotel.
Pictured at the award presentationl/r Pat Lemasney, Southern; Manus O’Callaghan, Awards Organiser; Ann-Marie O’Sullivan, AMO’Sullivan PR; Paudie Donegan, Lexus Cork, Airport Rd; Declan Chalmers, father of Christina; Tony O’Connell of Tony O’Connell Photography. Pic. Tony O’Connell Photography.
Christina organises her volunteers into groups, led by an experienced team member, to visit different city streets to distribute hot food, sleeping bags and medical attention. Christina also recently fulfilled the lifetime wish of a homeless man, by sending him to a Liverpool match in England, where he met some of his Liverpool football heroes.
“Cork people have been very generous to us. We have been given a unit in Ballyvolane Commercial Park where we prepare food and care packages. Chefs volunteer their skills, as do city small businesses, a Doctor, and Civil Defence ambulance, but the real unsung heroes are our many volunteers”, said Christina at the awards ceremony this week.
