Respond is grateful for the help of private business partners such as Healy Kelly Turner & Townsend (HKTT) who volunteered their time to help rejuvenate three Respond community projects in November 2014. The works consisted of painting at Respond Cuan Alainn, Women and Children’s Refuge located in Tallaght, Dublin. Painting at Respond community building located in Glenview, Co. Tipperary and gardening and landscaping at La Verna Day Care Centre, Baldoyle, Dublin.
Cuan Alainn
HKTT Voluteers: Kevin Duke, Laura Carroll, Cathal O’ Connor and Kim Nyhane, with Respond Regional Manager Padraic Brennan and Resident Margaret McInty
Ned Brennan Respond Chief Operations Officer speaks with RTE Joe Little
On the 11th November a team of four enthusiastic HKTT volunteers arrived at Cuan Alainn, where they were kitted out with overalls, and equipped with paintbrushes etc. Kevin Duke, Laura Carroll, Cathal O’ Connor and Kim Nyhane began work early and worked late to get the wood (and there was lots of wood) painted on the walls and benches located on the roof-top garden at Cuan Alainn, Women and Children’s refuge.
Joe Little from RTE arrived and conducted a short interview with Respond Ned Brennan Chief Operations Officer. Margaret Respond resident and Kevin from HKTT also spoke.
View RTE News clip speaking about the uncertain future of Respond Cuan Alainn Women and Children’s refuge which was broadcast on the Six-One News here
HKTT Volunteers : Keith Williams, Laura Firth and Paul Meskell, paining at Glenview Community Building, Carrick on Suir.
Glenview
Three more volunteers from HKTT Waterford office, arrived at Glenview Community Building, Carrick, Co. Tipperary late November. Keith Williams, Laura Firth and Paul Meskell did a fantastic job painting the kitchen, office and front door at this Afterschool Childcare Centre, which put new life into the building.
Pictured while planting two new apple trees for the La Verna Estate are from left: Claire O’Brien Clinical Nurse Manager La Verna Day Care Centre, Bernie Fitzgerald Client La Verna Day Care Centre, Aisling Flynn Respond, Patricia Morris HKTT Vincent McGuirk Resident La Verna, Ronan McGee HKTT, Karl Buggy Tús Worker with Respond, Sarah Dooley Respond, Derek Thompson Respond and Fiona Collins HKTT
La Verna
Pictured is 91 year old Nuala Hickey, one of La Verna’s oldest residents taking part in our recent HKTT Volunteer Day. Nuala is an avid gardener and has a great interest in flowers.
As part of their ongoing commitment to volunteerism in our estates this November, staff from HKTT also spent Tuesday 20th November on the La Verna Estate in a Baldoyle. La Verna accommodates 40 units for older people and also a Day Care Centre which is managed by the HSE.
It was a great community day with true volunteerism at its heart which included personnel from HKTT and Respond, staff and clients from the Day Care Centre together with La Verna’s own residents.
Residents John Owens and Mary O’Dwyer who both participated on the day and were a fantastic help. Both residents spoke of their happiness at being offered a home in La Verna and their delight at being able to participate on the day and to be able to give something back to the community.
There was perfect weather for gardening and all involved got stuck in from very early on to make the most of it. Lawns were mowed, shrubs cut back and pruned and fresh mulch was laid. Two new apple trees were also planted.
Respond Resident Support Worker Aisling Flynn wished to convey this message:
“Sincere thanks to the generosity of Fiona Collins, Patricia Morris, Ronan McGee and Charlie Kelly from HKTT, Claire O’Brien and the staff and clients in the Day Care Centre for looking after everyone with beautiful scones and very welcome hot soup at lunchtime, our own Derek Thompson from our maintenance team and our TUS worker Karl Buggy, and mostly to our residents who really engaged with the whole atmosphere and spirit of the day”.
Posted: December 2014