Instead of sitting at home and feeling useless, Mark Moriarty, along with the head chef from the Greenhouse restaurant and some colleagues, have been running a production kitchen in Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.

Their aim is to send out approx 200 meals a day to the front-line workers who are too tired to cook a substantial and nutritious meal when they arrive home.  The chef's hope to bring a bit of happiness to them through amazing food. 

The ingredients for the food are being donated by local companies and farmers and the group have also launched a GoFundMe page to finance the not-for-profit project, which raised €3,000 of its €50,000 target within 24 hours. This will allow the chef's to keep going for as long as the food is needed and any surplus funds when the project is finished will be used to finance a chef training scholarship.

Irish stars turned out in force last Friday to support Noel's Chernobyl Children's Lunch at the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge.  The event raises vital funds for the Chernobyl Charity, who's voluntary CEO is the inspiring Adi Roche.

Those who were keen to show their support for the charity on the day included Ryan Tubridy, Dermot Bannon, Diarmuid Gavin, Ali Hewson, Claire Byrne and Mary Kennedy, Jenny Buckley, Caitriona Perry to name but a few.

There was a host of fantastic prizes up for auction, including a consultation with Dermot Bannon and Diarmuid Gavin, with all of the proceeds going to support Adi and the incredible team at CCI.

Baz and the fabulous Moya May, have teamed up with TK Maxx and Enable Ireland to launch this year's "Give up Clothes for Good" campaign.

TK Maxx are asking people to support Enable Ireland by simply donating a bag of quality pre-loved clothes to any TK Maxx store. Each bag can raise up to €20 as they are then sold at Enable Ireland shops.

The money raised goes towards supporting projects benefiting children and young people with disabilities around Ireland, including purpose built children’s service centres, transport services and specialist equipment and assistive technology for children and young people with disabilities.

Dermot Bannon was in Laura Lynn recently to officially open their newly refurbished family accommodation.

Laura Lynn now has four family bedrooms alongside a living space and kitchen area allowing entire families to book in for short stays at the hospice. These short stays allow the child using the service, their parents and any siblings they may have to enjoy quality time together making memories as a family. Parents can enjoy just being mums and dads with the medical needs of their child fully taken care of.

Dermot felt honoured to be asked to open this newly refurbished area and believes that the days of respite that the families get are a lifeline and precious to them. 

Dietitian and TV personality, Aoife Hearne was part of a panel of experts who were in Langtons in Kilkenny recently, to launch this year's "Great Pink Run".

The event included tips on all the latest things fitness, nutrition, health, exercise an wellness, ahead of the event in Kilkenny Castle on 20th October next.  It is expected that over 10,000 men, women and children will take part in the annual Great Pink Run with Glanbia across three locations, raising much needed funds for Breast Cancer Ireland.

Gourmet Chefs Mark Moriarty and Derry Clarke partnered with Tesco Finest* recently, to serve a fine dining banquet at the three-day Electric Picnic event in Stradbally Estate in Co. Laois.

Using only the finest ingredients, guests were treated to a gastronomic dining experience, with silver service in a custom built marquee.  The event was held  in conjunction with Tesco to  raise much needed funds for Temple Street Children's hospital and Pieta House.

Doireann Garrihy recently launched the shortlist of 22 non-profit organisations that are in the running for this year's Coca-Cola "Thank You" fund of €100,000.

To date, the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund has supported projects including community, social and education programmes aimed at youth, healthy and active lifestyles, and environmental leadership. The fund is now in it's 9th year and will focus on working with communities in Ireland and Northern Ireland to inspire and support young people.

Communities are asked to cast their vote for this year's "People's Choice Award" at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.   The winners will be announced at Zeminar in October

Baz Ashmawy will be hosting the Irish version of DID SOS which will be coming to your screens soon.

The Big Build are looking for deserving families to apply to help rebuild their homes and hopefully transform their lives in the process.

You can register your interest by emailing [email protected].  They also looking for volunteers, heat merchants, plumbing suppliers, companies that can donate home interiors and furniture.

Dr Ciara Kelly travelled to Gambela in Ethiopia recently with Goal, to visit the refugee camps and report on the food programme there.
GOAL works in more than 40 locations across Ethiopia providing emergency nutrition, water and livelihood following devastation caused by years of drought.
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Ciara met the most kind, decent and resilient people in this incredible country and found the visit very impactful and humbling.