Saturday, December 29, 2012

Appeal for unwanted presents

Unwanted Christmas gifts are again being accepted at the Pro Cathedral in Dublin, to be redistributed to poor people and families in the coming months.

The gifts can be left at the crib in St Mary’s Pro Cathedral on Marlborough Street from now until January 6th.

They will be taken into storage by Crosscare – the social care agency of the Dublin Diocese – which will distribute them as gifts to those in their homeless and residential projects for Christmas 2013.

“Last year the response to the appeal was so generous, Crosscare was able to store hundreds of gifts for this Christmas and had as many left over to distribute in their Blanchardstown shop, raising funds which were used throughout 2012,” said Fr Damian O’Reilly, administrator at the Pro Cathedral.

He said staff were always taken aback by the generosity of people. “What started off as a simple appeal five years ago has grown into a really significant effort.”

He said this was a way to support those most in need in a relatively inexpensive way.