Age Action today urged the public to donate their unwanted Christmas gifts to help some of the country’s most needy older people.
The organisation called on people to pass on the presents for them to be sold in its charity shops.
Funding from the stores provide money to help older people who wish to remain at home, providing them with basic DIY and a home visitation service.
Daragh Matthews, Age Action's head of business development, said donating the presents would provide the organisation with much needed funding to continue its work.
"Finding the funding to continue and expand these services is one of the biggest challenges for us in 2009 faced with the economic downturn, and our charity shops are a vital source of revenue," Mr Matthews said.
"For every euro we receive in state support we have to bring in eight euro from our fundraising activities."
Unwanted gifts can be dropped in at the shops in Camden Street, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire, Monaghan, Castlebar or Upper Abbeygate Street, Galway.
However, there are some types of gift which the shops cannot accept. Due to safety regulations, Age Action can only take electrical goods if they are new and the packaging has not been opened.
"The shops cannot accept food, perishable items, alcohol or large items of furniture," Mr Matthews added.