b'afternoon with others. The opportunity often allows them to learn about the other services available to them throughCOPE Galway such as their Day Centres, where activitiesI come every week. The lunch club haslikecooking,art,exercise,andcomputertrainingare given me a new lease on life. I have newoffered. friends. You can stop in for a lovely cupAt one Lunch Club held in the local GAA hall, over 20 of tea and some biscuits. Im living on my people gathered on a Monday afternoon. On the menu own and it has made a big difference. And were hearty Irish stew and beautifully prepared salmon.Volunteers welcomed diners to set tables and conversa-theres never a bad day on the menu. tions from the week before were resumed. The affection-ate joking made it clear that many had known one another, lunch club attendee for decades, but those new to the Lunch Club were alsoARTHURwelcomed. AnneKenny,ManagerofSeniorSupportServiceswithCOPEGalway,andJacquieHoran,CEOofCOPE Galway, sat down to discuss COPE Galways impact todayand what the future would hold. Anne explained, It ishardforpeopleofanyagetoparticipateinorganizedactivities. But we say to people, You can come just forlunch.thatsOK,oryoucanengagewithadditional services. There is a relationship building element to whatwe do. Many of the folks that come to our Lunch Club maynot have realized the services that are available to them.We build that trust and then can see that they benefit. Jacquie elaborated on why their programs will con-tinue to be important in the future. Irelands populationis aging. The statistics tell us that over the next two tothree decades, a quarter of our population will be over 70years old and a significant number will be over 80 yearsold. This tells us that our planning needs to gear to this.One of our goals is to get the older population to thinkabouttheirnutritionalneeds.Partofopeningthat conversationistheestablishmentofourLunchClubs. The positive association they have carries over to the timewhen they may need our meal delivery service.The grant that came from The Ireland Funds lastyear made a significant difference to the services we pro-vide here in the city, said Anne. Thanks to that funding,we have a community worker who was able to go out intothree new communities to begin additional Lunch Clubs. WeaskedJacquiewhatitwaslikerunningthe organization at a time of great need in Ireland. Had itbecomehardertodotheworkthatwasneededinthe community? Jacquie answered, There is a strong comingtogether of community now. I think that this was missingduring the Celtic Tiger. People want to offer their time andtheirservicesinawaythathelpscommunities. An increased number of older people are experiencingloneliness. I think this is why the Lunch Clubs are comingintotheirmoment.Andhere,theycancometogetheronce or twice a week to have a nutritious meal in greatcompany.Weareconstantlyseekingnewsourcesof funding to bring lunch clubs to more and more areas ofthecountyasolderpeopleareoftenveryisolatedin rural areas.connect2012 | 19'