Christmas Appeal
Citywest Refugee Transit Hub
South Dublin Volunteer Centre, through their Community Volunteer program, are asking for your help with a Christmas Donation Appeal for those who will be resident in the Citywest Ukrainian and Refugee Transit Hub over the Christmas period. Over 700 people will spend Christmas in the Transit Hub at Citywest while they wait to be assigned to accommodation and we want to make sure that each person receives a small gift on Christmas morning.
We are asking you to please consider donating to our appeal, either by giving a gift directly, or by donating money, with which we will buy a gift on your behalf.
Click the links below to see how you can help.
Click here to donate directly online here
Donations Required
All accepted items:
Please note – we are now prioritising adult gifts as we have received a huge response to our Childrens appeal.
Vouchers:
Vouchers for between 10 and 20 euros for stores such as Penneys, Dunnes, Smyths Toys, One4All.
Christmas Cards:
We will be accepting Christmas cards written from adults to give to adults or from children to give to children (handmade would be lovely). Cards will be given separately from donated items. Please leave envelopes unsealed.
Clothing (new or unused only – particularly for Adults!!)
Hats (for men & women)
Gloves (for men & women)
Food
Chocolates,
Selection Boxes for Christmas
Arts & Crafts (new or unused materials only please)
Materials for children of all ages including:
Colouring Books
Drawing Pads
Crayons
Markers
Misc drawing materials, like pencil cases, erasers, and pencil sharpeners
Donate online
Donate online and we will buy a gift for the child/adult – click here
Frequently asked questions
What items do you accept?
We are currently only collecting items on our donation list. You can view a full list of currently required items by clicking the “Donations require” tab above. Items must be new and unused, in their original packaging, and (for food items), before their best-before date.
Should I wrap the presents?
No, please leave the presents unwrapped. Our volunteers will wrap them before we give them to the recipients! This is so that we can make sure that your gift goes to someone it will be most suitable for.
What happens if I arrive with items outside of the list provided?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept items beyond the list of items currently outlined. If you arrive with other items, our volunteer team will kindly ask you to take these back home with you.
What happens in the event of surplus items?
In the rare event that a donation received cannot be utilised for the benefit of those mentioned above over the Christmas period, we will keep them in storage into the new year and distribute them on a needs bases to those arriving to the Citywest Transit Hub.
Who’s running this appeal?
This donation appeal is being managed by South Dublin Volunteer Centre – an independent charity that supports and facilitates volunteering in the local county. We work in the Citywest Transit Hub with our Community Volunteers Team alongside the Department of Children, the HSE, the Department of Justice and TUSLA
Drop off times and venues
We have specific drop-off times available, please don’t drop off items outside of these days/times as we won’t be able to receive your donation.
Tallaght – Brookfield Youth and Community Centre D24 VF5E
From 12th December to 18th December
Tallaght – Rua Red (South Dublin Arts Centre) D24 KV8N
10am to 6pm from 12th – 17th December
Clondalkin – Rowlagh Community Centre D22 VY46
December 12th – 16th from 9am-3pm
Knocklyon – Knocklyon Youth and Community Centre D16 XT18
From 12th December to 18th December
Rathfarnham – Ballyroan Community Centre D14 R7Y7
From 12th December to 18th December
(PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF TO CITYWEST CONVENTION CENTRE)
Maximise your impact!
Spread the word
Let your connections know about the current donation appeal. Tell a friend or post it in a whatsapp group or on social media to help us get the word out and the donations in.
Facilitate a group donation locally or at your workplace!
Take a leaf out of John’s book who acted as a mini drop-off point during a previous appeal.
- Pop a box someplace convenient for people to drop off items e.g. your front porch or reception area at work
- Notify neighbours/colleagues that you’re facilitating a mini donation and that they can chip in items until a specific date/time (when you’re planning to drop-off the lot). Remember to also let them know that only specific items are being collected at present.
- Drop the lot off to your local drop off site by
Sample text or tweet for your mini drop-off
Hi all! This week I’m collecting items for the Citywest Refugee Transit Hub. We will have nearly 800 refugees, including children, sleeping on the site over the Christmas period and we want to make it a meaningful Christmas for them.
If you’d like to chip in some items you can put them [insert specific location] by [insert specific time] and I’ll drop the lot off to the temporary donation hub.
There is a specific list of items that are required which includes some basic toys and new clothes. You can check the full list of what’s needed here: https://volunteersouthdublin.ie/christmas/ under donations required.
Thanks!
