Devastating story behind photo of boy eating pasta off cardboard box
A heartbreaking photo of a young homeless boy eating his dinner out of a cardboard box on the pavement of a city street in Ireland has caused widespread outcry.
The picture shows five-year-old Sam eating spaghetti off an open cardboard box outside a homeless cafe in Dublin as temperatures plummeted to 4C.
The image was shared over 9000 times on Facebook after being posted by the Homeless Street Cafe, a volunteer group which bands together to feed the homeless.
“We are home after another incredibly busy night. I’m exhausted, weary and emotional and should (guiltily) go to bed BUT there is an image burnt in all the teams’ minds tonight,” the group posted on Facebook.
"It’s wrong and it’s distressing but this IS happening and it’s only getting worse each week.
“Sam is five and this was him eating a dinner of carbonara tonight on a sheet of cardboard
"Can we really accept this?"
The image has prompted thousands to reach out with messages of support.
“My god this is just devastating and so hard to see as a mother of two little boys my heart is [broken] looking at this picture,” one said.
Another added: "Saddest picture I‘ve seen in a long time.”
"To think this is real life for so many unfortunate people. Well done for been so strong to do what you do and see what you see night after night.
"You and your team are amazing human beings."
Sam's picture has prompted the Fianna Fail party's Darragh O’Brien to criticise the housing minister Eoghan Murphy for his “failed housing plan”.
“I’m not just speaking as a housing spokesperson but as a dad as well. It would break your heart seeing something like that,” he told the Irish Mirror.
“It’s shameful this is where we are at and the reality for over 4000 kids in this country in emergency accommodation.
“This is Dublin, what is supposed to be a wealthy, modern European city and we have a kid eating his dinner off a sheet of cardboard in the street.
“Is that normal for him that this is something he has to do because he’s hungry?”
The volunteer group confirmed in the comments on their post that the little boy is now in emergency accommodation and attending school.
The Homeless Street Cafe is a voluntary group that offers food, toiletries, clothes and other essentials to homeless people in central Dublin.
– Yahoo! UK
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