Press Release
Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI), the national homeless and addiction charity, is urgently appealing for support to keep their essential Sunday Dinner Service running throughout 2025. Every Sunday, the service welcomes hundreds of men and women who are homeless and seeking refuge.
Last year, the charity provided 10,530 hot Sunday dinners, a 23% increase on the previous year.
Eddie Mullins, CEO at MQI explains:
“The demand for MQI’s services has never been greater. Our Sunday Dinner Service is one of the few services providing a free, sit-down Sunday dinner in Dublin and without it, hundreds of vulnerable people would go hungry.
At its core, it’s a “proper Sunday dinner”. But the service goes far beyond food. We help people in crisis access emergency accommodation, healthcare or mental health services. People can come in and get a hot shower, dry clothes, clean socks, or just have somewhere safe to sit down. This service is a lifeline for people experiencing homelessness, and it’s our donors that keep it going every year.
Des, a 72-year-old MQI client, shares his experience:
“After losing my home and everything I’ve worked for, I came to MQI on a Sunday. I remember feeling hopeless that day. But they sat me down, gave me a warm meal and talked to me. Just having someone be kind, when I was so lost, gave me the strength to believe things could get better.”
Emma, a Sunday Service Project Worker at MQI concludes:
“For someone who feels hopeless, stepping into the Sunday Dinner Service means stepping into a space where they are seen, supported, and cared for. It’s not just about having a nourishing meal – it’s about kindness, connection, and getting the help you need.”
The MQI Sunday Service is entirely donor-funded, and we are asking the public for their continued support. For more information or to donate to MQI, please visit www.mqi.ie/Lent
