Students Harness Aid for the Relief of the Elderly
Students Harness Aid for Relief of Elderly (formerly Schoolboys Harness Aid for Relief of Elderly) or SHARE, is a charitable organisation based in Cork, Ireland, dedicated to providing housing and other support for the elderly poor. An article in the regional Southern Star newspaper reputedly stated that SHARE had "brought help and hope, homes and happiness to the lonely old people who have been forgotten by society". The organisation was founded in 1970 by Brother Jerome Kelly and students of Presentation Brothers College, Cork, to deal with the social issues of the time. Other schools in Cork later joined, until representatives from 18 secondary schools were involved with the charity. Since its founding, over 200 custom-built homes have been provided by the organisation. Work by the members of SHARE is year-round, but its most active period is the Christmas Fast and Fundraising Campaign, when over 1800 students have been involved in collecting in Cork city centre. The charity's sole collection period lasts only ten days, which has made it a recognisable part of the Cork Christmas season. It has received recognition from the media, from Irish political figures, and the people of Cork; but it is the involvement of students from all of Cork city's secondary schools which has reportedly made SHARE "a truly unique and effective organisation". History In 1969, Brother Jerome Kelly returned home from missionary work and was made principal of Presentation Brothers College. He organised a series of workshops, in which the students of Presentation College were encouraged to think globally and act locally. The senior students were sent out to walk the lanes and side streets of Cork City and identify the major problems themselves. While the city centre's main thoroughfares were bustling with "elegant buildings and fashionable shop windows", there existed a different reality in the dreary alleys and decaying tenements. The students were "unanimous in their belief that the greatest single need was the plight of the elderly citizens… apparently forgotten by their own people". In 1970, SHARE was founded when a group of 12 students erected a makeshift crib on St. Patrick's Street and fasted for thirty hours to attract attention to the plight of the elderly. At first they aimed to help the elderly by renovating the "depressing attic rooms and tiny basement flats," until the uncaring landlords increased the rent. The students obtained the support of the civic leaders at the time for their project, getting "free land in key areas of the city," and were then "faced with challenge of fundraising and ensuring homes for the elderly were built." Through their work, they had sufficient funds by 1975 to begin building the first SHARE Complex. In 1976, twelve houses were built and furnished at Clochán Barra on Sheare's Street and accommodation for thirteen people was provided at Grenville Place. Over the following two years, eleven homes were provided at Sheare's Street, seven houses at Sunday's Well, and 13 houses at Fair Street. The nineteen houses at Shandon were formally