Last night, we kicked off our first winter Tuesday session on The Strand in collaboration with GROAD to hand out clothes and essential items to people sleeping rough.

These sessions will be running on the third Tuesday of every month until April, helping make sure people have access to practical essentials through the colder months.

It was a hectic but effective task - there was a real demand for the items on offer, with people keen to find the things they needed. We had lots of chats along the way, and the majority of the donations found new homes by the end of the night. All in all, a good night's work!

The work GROAD does is so important because getting essential clothing and other everyday necessities directly to people experiencing homelessness can make a real difference, especially during winter. Alongside meeting immediate practical needs, these sessions offer opportunities for human connection, conversation and a little extra support.

If you enjoyed last night's session, we also have a weekly joint session with Gurseva on Saturday nights, handing out food to people sleeping rough in the very same spot. Everyone is welcome, whether you're a regular or joining for the first time!

A big thank you to everyone who came along to help last night 💛

One GoodGymer spent some time at TRAID sorting, sizing and hanging donated clothes, helping give pre-loved fashion a second life and keeping textiles out of landfill. There was something surprisingly therapeutic about turning bags of mixed donations into neat, organised displays ready for the shop floor. It was one of those tasks that felt both calming and satisfying, and if only it were this easy to keep my wardrobe at home in order!

Two GoodGymers suited up for a cracking session at TRAID, sorting and hanging clothes to help keep perfectly wearable items out of landfill. Danielle was clearly a cut above with her retail experience, hanging two or three items for every one Brenda managed, while also sharing a few tricks of the trade for keeping long dresses off the floor! Together they got through plenty of stock, proving that when GoodGymers hang out together, they really can make a difference, one hanger at a time!

One GoodGymer joined Under One Sky at St Mary's Church to make and pack sandwiches for rough sleepers while Columbo and Law & Order played in the background. Between solving TV mysteries and assembling lunch packs from donated food, they helped ensure the outreach team had plenty of sandwiches ready for their night walk. As Columbo might say, "Just one more thing..." - every sandwich packed was one more person supported that evening.

Two GoodGym volunteers collected surplus food donated by Gail’s Bakery and delivered it to Under One Sky at St Mary’s Church, Bourne Street. The food, which would otherwise have gone to waste, was used to prepare sandwiches for outreach sessions supporting people experiencing homelessness, helping both reduce food waste and provide practical support to those in need.

So it became clear this afternoon that Mark Zuckerberg won't be visiting Mr R anytime soon (now there's an opening to a report that I never thought I'd ever write...), as four cans of Guinness featured at the top of Mr R's list.

Tesco can sometimes be hit and miss when it comes to items on Mr R's list, but four cans of Ireland's finest were easily found.