Volunteers gather to feed needy at Christmas
An army of volunteers is reaching out to those in need over the coming days at the country's soup kitchens.
People who cannot afford a Christmas dinner will be looked after at centres in towns and cities around the country.
Cork Penny Dinners began helping people in need in 1841, and currently feeds more than 100 people a day.
They've seen a jump of 50% in demand for their services over the past two years, and are expecting 2012 to be one of their busiest ever Christmas operations, with up to 150 people stopping by.
Many charities are reaching out to people in Dublin this Christmas, including St Vincent de Paul and the Simon Community.
The Capuchin Day Centre on Bow Street, which helping around 1,600 people on a weekly basis at the moment, will be open also.
Meanwhile, a group of soup kitchens will be feeding people in the midlands and west.
Twist soup kitchens are prepared for up to 70 callers on Christmas Day in Galway, Athlone and Roscommon.
