Great support for charity Fly-In in Birr
The Birr SVP office and its charity shop are very busy during the cost of living crisis
THE annual Breakfast Fly-In in aid of St Vincent de Paul was a great success on Saturday, raising £15,119 for St Vincent de Paul Birr.
This was the charity’s fifth annual Fly-In, an event which attracts many aircraft, including planes belonging to the Irish Air Corps and Irish Coast Guard helicopters.
The President of Birr St Vincent de Paul Marian Carter said Birr SVP is extremely thankful to the general public for being so supportive of the Fly-In. She said Birr SVP is also very grateful to Ormand Flying Club and the many pilots who flew in with their beautiful planes and helicopters.
Marian told The Midland Tribune that the Birr St Vincent de Paul office and its charity shop are very busy during the cost of living crisis.
“The greatest number of demands which we are receiving,” she remarked, “are to do with those seeking help with their electricity and energy costs.” This reflects the wider national picture where Ireland has the highest electricity charges in the EU, with customers paying nearly 40% more than the EU average, and the hard-pressed public is facing further electricity and gas hikes in July.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides emergency financial assistance payments for households struggling to keep their heat and electricity on. The volunteers in the charity can offer confidential, non-judgmental support to people who are struggling, which includes direct financial help, energy-saving advice, and advocacy.
Volunteers can provide once-off grants or funds to help clear utility arrears, prevent disconnections, or assist Pay-As-You-Go customers.