This article is from page 36 of the 2007-06-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 36 JPG
THE important contribution made by Samaritans volunteers to com- munity life in Ennis was recognised at a civic reception hosted by Ennis Town Council last week.
The reception was organised to mark the 25th anniversary of the En- nis and Clare branch of the Samari- tans. The service started in Ennis on June 7, 1982, and in its first year han- dled 500 calls. Originally based at premises on O’Connell Street in the town centre, the Samaritans moved to a new location at Sunville on the Kilrush Road in 1984.
Last year the centre handled 30,000 calls reflecting the expansion and growing demand for the service.
53 worked at the centre in 1982. The number of volunteers currently involved with the Samaritans now stands at 100.
Director Mary Lynch told repre- sentatives of Ennis Town Council that the decline in the number of people volunteering meant organisa- tions like the Samaritans were more important than ever.
She said, “In times in which the role of community is more and more compromised, in which the time to devote to volunteering is less and
less, but in which the importance of community trust, cohesion and social capital is more and more recognised, the importance of organisations like Samaritans has never been greater.
“We commit ourselves to honour the trust that has been placed in us over the years and to continue to serve the people of Ennis and Clare for the next 25 years”.
She highlighted the strong bonds that existed between the Samaritans and the people of Ennis and how that relationship ensured the survival of the service.
“Ennis was initially established as an outreach centre of the Limerick
branch, but within about a year had thrown off the shackles of our near neighbours and declared independ- Cieen
‘Since that time the branch has been loyally supported by the communi- ties of Ennis and Clare. This sup- port has been of many kinds. Many have provided the financial resources that we need to carry on our activi- ties; many families have given us the time of their sons, daughters, fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, and partners, to act as volunteers in our centre; a variety of individuals & or- ganisations have held events to sup- port us and to promote our work.”