Paul KeenanRadisson Hotel brings food and smiles to Capuchin Day Centre
Visitors to the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin’s Bow Lane received ‘five star’ treatment last week when the Radisson Blu hotel chain took over proceedings for a day.
On June 5, some 30 volunteers drawn from staff at the chain’s three Dublin hotels cooked and served meals for over 1,000 people visiting the centre. All food was supplied by the Radisson for breakfast and lunchtime sittings, and included food parcels and goody-bag treats for children at the centre that day.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic, the Radisson’s Ireland district director Pat Cussen said the day of volunteering and food is a Europe-wide initiative by the chain, and this, the first time at the Capuchin Day Centre was a “huge success”.
“We’ve been working with some beautiful people today,” Pat said of the warm welcome offered for the volunteers by the day centre’s visitors. He added that once the Capuchin Day Centre had been announced as the venue for the event, “we had no problem getting volunteers”.
“It’s been unreal,” volunteer and Radisson general manager Madeline Riley said of her experience. “The stories we’ve heard have been unbelievable and the people have been great.”
Menu
Madeline outlined a menu of butternut squash soup as a starter, Turkey, ham or salmon mains and a choice of three deserts on offer on the day, with limitless tea and coffee, served by the volunteers.
One day centre visitor, John, who is long-term homeless, said everyone was delighted with the “unexpected treat”.
“I knew nothing till I came in for the breakfast, which was fabulous, fabulous,” he said, “and now the dinner was magic too. Would it be cheeky to ask for another chocolate brownie?”
Availing of a welcome, if momentary, break for his usual efforts on behalf of the homeless, Br Kevin Crowley watched proceedings and declared himself delighted that the Radisson had approached the day centre.
“You can’t imagine the difference it makes to people to know they’ve been remembered and thought of,” he told this newspaper. “I can’t thank the Radisson enough.”