Tom O Connor

Tonight's Soup Run – One of the Most Challenging Nights in 11 Years 💔 Tonight, our soup run was tested in ways we have never experienced before. The crowds were enormous, tensions were high, and there was pushing, shoving and fighting among people waiting for food. It was an incredibly difficult night for our staff and volunteers as we tried desperately to maintain order and prioritise those most vulnerable. Just close your eyes for a moment and picture this. Elderly people struggling with Zimmer frames, people leaning on crutches, older men and women bent over with age, mothers with young children getting lost in the crowds, and homeless people visibly exhausted from life on the streets. These are the people we desperately try to bring forward first. Tonight, even getting the crowds to stand back to allow them through proved extremely difficult. Sadly, one of our volunteers had a hot cup of tea thrown over her. We were absolutely gobsmacked. In 11 years of running our soup run, we have never experienced anything like this. But what happened next speaks volumes about the incredible people who volunteer with Muslim Sisters of Éire. She went to her car, cleaned herself up, gathered herself and came straight back to continue serving those in need. ❤️ That is dedication. That is compassion. That is humanity. Despite everything, 400 hot meals were served tonight. Every single meal was gone. Six six-foot tables were laden with food, and by the end of the evening, every table had been cleared. And what a beautiful abundance of food we had! Fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, yoghurts, sandwiches, and delicious hot meals generously provided by four different restaurants. But tonight, we also want to give a very special shout-out to all the mammies, daddies and little boys and girls who have been visiting our office throughout the week. ❤️ Since Halloween, families have been arriving with bags of leftover sweets and treats for those who attend our soup run. Seeing little children walking into our office, proudly carrying their donations, genuinely touches our hearts. What makes it even more special is seeing parents teaching their children the importance of sharing, kindness, compassion and recognising that not everyone is as fortunate as they are. These are lessons that will stay with those children for life. ❤️ Tonight, our tables were overflowing with goodies, and thanks to your incredible generosity, we have enough treats to continue sharing over the next couple of weeks. To every parent and every little child who took the time to donate, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Tonight was emotionally and physically exhausting. It was a stark reminder of the desperation, frustration and hardship that so many people are experiencing. While we understand that desperation can lead to heightened emotions, the safety and dignity of our volunteers and those we serve must always be respected. But we will continue to show up. We will continue to serve. And we will continue to treat every person who comes to us with compassion and dignity. We simply could not do this without you. To our restaurants, donors, volunteers, families and the wider community, thank you for standing alongside Muslim Sisters of Éire. If you would like to support our soup run, whether through food donations, essential supplies or financial contributions, please reach out. Together, we are making a difference, one meal, one act of kindness and one person at a time. ❤️ #MuslimSistersOfEire #MSOE #HomelessnessIreland #DublinHomeless #SoupRun #CommunityCompassion #KindnessMatters #HelpingThoseInNeed #VolunteersAreHeroes #TeachingChildrenKindness #TogetherWeCanMakeADifference Please donate at: msoe.ie/donate/