A Helping Hand at Christmas

By Liam Cahill

Lending and Helping Hand at Christmas 3

For many, Christmas isn’t all about tinsel and tiaras, some people find it difficult to afford a Christmas dinner or even toys for their little ones. One group is trying to put a stop to that.

“We’re just aware that Christmas is not what the TV makes it out to be for many people. We have this warm, cosy, lights-twinkling idea of Christmas and for many families that’s not the case,” said Sharon Perry, the Pastor of Abundant Grace, a Christian mission based in Ringsend.

For the past two years, Abundant Grace has been at the forefront of delivering help to those less well off, by offering Christmas Day dinner and delivering hampers across Dublin 4. This year’s dinner will take place in Restored, a small charity shop facing the Ringsend Library.

“It’ll be food and fun,” said Sharon. “We’re there for a few hours, so people chat and spend some time together as you do with family at Christmas.”

Last year was the first year Abundant Grace offered such services, which attracted good numbers. As a result, they decided to hold a similar event this year.

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Across Dublin, Barnardos – who have teamed up with parcel store GLS – are running their annual Toy Appeal. People are invited to donate new toys, stocking-fillers or items they think Children may like and drop them into their nearest GLS shop. The company will then deliver the toys to Barnardos centres.

Team Hope, an Irish Christian mission, will run their annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal. The charity aims to deliver over 200,000 to Children in need in Africa and Europe.

“Simply find an old shoebox, wrap it up with Christmas paper and fill it with gifts for a child,” says Niall Barry, the Executive Director of Team Hope. The Shoebox Appeal has delivered some 2.8 million boxes to children to date.

For more information, visit: AbundantGrace.ie
Barnardos.ie
Teamhope.ie

Photos: A girl in Swaziland with her Team Hope shoebox.
Sergei with his Team Hope shoebox.