'Clubs Together' - an initiative between Birmingham Irish and the GAA

Birmingham Irish • April 17, 2020

At Birmingham Irish Association, we feel it is our duty to ensure that our beloved elders and those in need in our community are kept safe, protected and loved, especially during the critical recent times.

Therefore, we are delighted to have joined with our incredible friends at the GAA organisation to create the 'Clubs Together' initiative, a food bank service that provides non-perishable items across the city to those without friends or family to support them during the current restrictions.

Through us working together, donations are collected locally at the four GAA clubs based in Birmingham: John Mitchels, Sean McDermotts, Erin Go Brath and St Brendan's at pre-scheduled times and then delivered en masse to St Anne's over a period of 8 weeks.
Our first week into the initiative has seen an absolutely magnificent effort by the members and supporters of the Sean McDermotts Club who collected and delivered 150 shopping bags to those in need on Easter Saturday. We would also like to extend a huge thank you to the those who supported the GAA that week and donated an overwhelming amount of goods.
Next week, the Erin Go Brath and St Brendan's clubs will be taking part in the initiative to help us continue to make a difference. We will also be opening St Anne's Parish Church on 21st and 27th April for non-perishable donations (10:00am - 11:00am) or for those who would like to collect for a vulnerable person (10:00am - 12:00pm). 

Please be reassured that our volunteers will be maintaining the social distancing rule of 2 metres when we are distributing/receiving goods as the fire doors to the church hall will be opened and manned. If donations could be left on the floor near the entrance doors, our volunteers will be able to collect these accordingly.

We would like to say that as an organisation, it fills us with pride to see the Irish community and especially those supporting the GAA are pulling together to make sure that love, hope and support is give across the city to those who need it most during these difficult times we are facing.

A message we received from a member of our community, Marianne:
"Thank you so much for the food delivery made to my parents. Mum has Alzheimer's and my dad is her full time carer, so can't get out to the supermarket. I don't live close enough to be much help. I've had trouble getting online food deliveries for them, and don't have access to a car to get shopping to them. It really is appreciated. Thank you for being there for them.”
Clubs Together Initiative
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