Sodexo supports Shine a Light on homelessness in aid of Focus Ireland
October 21, 2019
Sodexo was delighted to once again sponsor Focus Ireland’s national fundraiser, ‘Shine a Light Night’, on Friday 18 October 2019.
Thousands of people in cities, towns and communities nationwide volunteered to sleep out for one night to raise much needed funds for the organisation, which is Ireland’s leading not-for-profit working to prevent people becoming, remaining or returning to homelessness.
It was Sodexo’s second year to support the event; co-ordinated by Julianne Forrestal, executive craft development chef and with the wonderful support of employee volunteers and suppliers, food, water and hot beverages were distributed at locations in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford.
Before she swapped her executive chair for a sleeping bag at the Business Leaders Sleep-out in the Law Society of Ireland’s outdoor space in Dublin, country president Julie Ennis dropped in to support the Sodexo crew at the Iveagh Gardens, one of the charity’s designated sleepout locations in the city centre.
Julie Ennis, country president, Sodexo Ireland, said:
It’s my first time to take part and it’s given me an insight into what some individuals and families must face every single day in Ireland. I want to thank our co-ordinator Julianne Forrestal for all the hard work she has put into making our involvement in this enormously worthwhile event such a success. Thank you so much to all our volunteers and our suppliers for their support, it just wouldn’t have been possible without them.
Sodexo would like to thank the following suppliers for their generosity; Bunzl IM, Coca-Cola, Freshways, Glanbia Foods, Nestle Coffee, Pallas Foods and Unilever Foods who donated food, water, beverages and other items.
Pictured
At the Focus Ireland Shine a Light Night sleepout in the Iveagh Gardens on 18 October 2019 were country president Julie Ennis (back row, 3rd from left) with volunteers Celine Darcy, Cleidiane da Silva; Leila Tarazi and Sigitas Zubrickas; front row; volunteer co-ordinator Julianne Forrestal, Liliane Anuda and Anna Paula. Other employee volunteers in Dublin and around the country were Noel Reid, Eric Westby, John Core, Derek Donnelly, Adrian Nix and John Kidney.