At this time of year when many will enjoy fantastic food with family and friends, the StreetSmart project is remembering those who cannot afford a nice meal or even a roof over their heads.
Through StreetSmart people can dine out, as well as help in combating homelessness this Winter. In some of the best restaurants in Dublin and beyond, a voluntary €2 donation is added to each tables’ bill during November, December and into January. This money will then be used to support the organisations providing services, housing, advocacy and solutions to those sleeping rough.
“What StreetSmart is trying to do is bring together the restaurant industry to address the biggest social crisis for a generation,” says founder Brian Cuddy in a statement. “Feedback from staff and customers has been overwhelmingly positive. Homelessness on our streets is hard to ignore and during the lead-up to Christmas, most are very happy to ‘give a little something back’ after enjoying their meal.”
At the end of the campaign all participating restaurants will pass on the money raised to StreetSmart and its new registered charity partner SCOOP (Support Children Out of Poverty). The latter was founded by two Irish brothers, working to raise money for those facing inequality across the world including in countries like Cambodia, India, Iraq, Kenya, Syria and Yemen.
90 per cent of the money raised through restaurants is shared among Irish homeless charities, while 10 per cent goes to SCOOP’s aid projects overseas. In the last three years, StreetSmart has successfully raised over €90,000, helping domestic homeless charities such as the Peter McVerry Trust, Focus Ireland and Stepping Stone.
Restaurants involved with StreetSmart include Darwin’s Restaurant, Locks, 777, Fade Street Social, Taste at Rustic, Coppinger Row, Klaw, Rustic Stone, Whitefriar Grill, Vermillion, Ukiyo and the Michelin starred L’Ecrivain. For the full list, visit here.
StreetSmart as a concept has successfully run for 15 years across England and around the World in Australia, New-Zealand, Canada and South Africa. More information about the project is available on StreetSmart’s website, as well as on their Facebook page.
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