Pop-up soup stand for homeless to start in Athlone

A local voluntary group is setting up a regular pop-up soup stand to help feed the homeless in Athlone.

About 15 volunteers from Helping Hand Athlone will operate a soup stand in the town on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7.30pm to 9pm. The pop-up stand will be located under the porch of St Pater and Paul's Church and the service will commence on Monday, February 6.

Athlone woman Lisa Malone said they are expecting the uptake to be slow at the start as she feels people will be more apprehensive to begin with. “We'll give it a try and see how it goes. If you only feed one person you've met your objective."

Explaining why she decided to set up the soup stand, Lisa explained: “A lot of people are struggling at the moment with inflation and the prices have gone through the roof.”

According to Lisa, some people are struggling to get a hot meal on the table. “While it's not a big meal it could be substantial to someone in the evening time."

The soup stand is primarily aimed at the homeless, those who may be living alone and the elderly.

“The cost of living has got very expensive so anyone that wants a cup of soup and a roll and even a chat to the volunteers they’re more than welcome to pop up.”