SVP issues urgent appeal

SOCIETY of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) volunteers will make around 150,000 calls to struggling homes all over Ireland between now and Christmas.

Yesterday, helped by RTÉ broadcaster Ryan Tubridy, the society launched an urgent appeal for donations to provide help to the burgeoning numbers of people in severe financial difficulties.

Last year, SVP spent €75 million on people experiencing poverty and exclusion, compared with €66.6m the previous year.