Arklow Community Action Resource Center invited Samaritans to the grand opening of their new premises

We attended alongside many other voluntary services who were all happy to celebrate this fantastic occasion, adding our own congratulations and best wishes to the center team. We were given a tour of their new home and treated to lovely refreshments including tea, coffee, sandwiches and delicious cake.

We were privileged to hear a lovely and informative speech outlining the hard work involved in renovating and restoring the building to its current state as a cosy and comfortable community venue.

Arklow Community Action Resource Centre is a non-profit organisation, providing a dedicated service run by a caring team of committed volunteers. Their goal is to care for the community with a welcoming and connecting approach.

The Resource Centre regularly fundraises in order to keep their service open to all in need of assistance. In addition to many other important activities, they provide weekly food drops and tackle social isolation among the most marginalized people in Arklow:  older persons, women experiencing domestic violence and people experiencing ill health are just some of the groups who benefit from their work.

Since September 2014, they have been involved with Food Cloud. This initiative connects businesses that have surplus food with charities and community groups that need it. Local supermarkets are able to offer surplus stock to the Resource Center through this connection. The center also accepts furniture and clothing from anyone that wishes to donate items to be given to those in need. Many different types of items can be donated, and the team distributes this food, clothing and furniture six nights a week to families needing support.

The center has played host in the past to many groups set up to increase social inclusion, and has provided a safe and welcoming space for groups and individuals to meet and interact. These have included separate groups for both men and women, and also a community coffee morning group. These activities are able to start up once again now that the Resource Centre has found its new home.

East Coast Samaritans would like to wish the volunteers from Arklow Action Resource Center the very best of luck with all their current and future activities.