Queues formed from early this morning as 3,000 food vouchers are expected to be handed out by the Capuchin Day Centre to help those in need over Christmas.
Scores of people were in the queue outside the charity's centre on Bow Street in Dublin city centre.
The vouchers are for €50 and can be used in Dunnes Stores to buy food or clothes, but cannot be used to buy alcohol, tobacco or lottery cards.
The centre's manager, Alan Bailey, said he has not seen it so busy of late in all of his 50 years working there.
He said people from all background use its services, including "the homeless and those with homes".
Mr Bailey said people with jobs were also there to get vouchers, adding that "this time of year has additional pressures" and "there's a knock on affect from the lost of living crisis."
Those collecting vouchers had received a ticket from the charity last week.
It is has been giving out Christmas food hampers every year since the 1970s, but switched to giving out vouchers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among other services, the centre also provides 700 dinners and 300 breakfasts six days a week.
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