Dubliners are already taking unwanted Christmas gifts to the crib in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral, to help the city’s homeless.
Staff there will pass the unwanted DVDs, jumpers, toiletries, toys and more to the Dublin Catholic Archdiocese’s Crosscare agency, which will distribute them to those in need.
Last year the response to the appeal was so generous that Crosscare was able to sell surplus gifts and use the money for its homeless shelters and services around Dublin.
Fr Pat O’Donoghue from the Pro-Cathedral said they were not expecting such a generous response this year, but indications were that people were not trying to exchange unwanted gifts, but were happy to leave them at the crib for those most in need instead.
Crosscare has seen an increase in demand across their services in the past year.
People can leave their unwanted gifts at the crib in the Pro-Cathedral between now and January 6th.