Great response to JRS Toy Appeal
Almost 700 children and vulnerable individuals received presents and toys this Christmas as Jesuit schools and works across Ireland took part in a toy and gift raising appeal from the Jesuit Refugee Service in Ireland.
Families in Direct Provision and Emergency Centres in Dublin, Kildare, Portlaoise, Meath, Westmeath, Monaghan, Louth, Wicklow, Limerick, Clare, Cork and Tipperary all benefitted from the appeal and the work of the school students.
At the end of December Eugene Quinn, National Director, met Jamal and Abdi, two Somali refugees in Knockalisheen Accomodation Centre who gave a thumbs up and thanks for the Limerick Textile hoodies they had received under the Appeal. (See photo).
Read below David Moriarty, Assistant Director of JRS Ireland who has the full report of what happened and how.
Hospitality in action reflected in generous response to 2021 JRS Ireland Toy Appeal
Irish Jesuit schools led the way once again, responding as ‘hospitality in action’ to ensure vulnerable individuals, children and families seeking asylum in Ireland received gifts this Christmas.
The Covid cloud was once again pierced by the generosity of so many in responding to the 2021 JRS Ireland Toy Appeal.
Emer Connor, JRS Ireland’s Projects and Outreach Support Worker, highlighted that more than “650 children seeking protection in Ireland were provided with a gift at Christmas and a reminder that they are not invisible; not forgotten; and are welcome here in our communities.”
Beneficiaries of this year’s Appeal reside in Direct Provision and Emergency Centres in Dublin, Kildare, Portlaoise, Meath, Westmeath, Monaghan, Louth, Wicklow, Limerick, Clare, Cork and Tipperary.
Due to public health restrictions, donors were once again asked to support a fundraising drive to ensure age-appropriate presents could be bought and delivered by JRS to families living in Direct Provision and other accommodation centres nationwide.
In Belvedere College SJ, Eoghan Keogh and Pádraig Swan ran an innovative and extremely successful online fundraising campaign, using the JustGiving platform which raised an amazing €4,000. The efforts of students and the wider school community at Gonzaga College SJ were coordinated by Martina Crawford.
As the end of 2021 approached, there was a significant increase in the number of people seeking protection in Ireland – marking a return to pre-pandemic levels. This placed additional pressure on a Direct Provision system already operating at maximum capacity, forcing recourse to emergency hotel accommodation for arrivals in December.
In response, JRS expanded the appeal to those children and young people living in pre-reception centres during Christmas and will provide vital outreach to these families in 2022.
Ms. Connor added: “The resources raised ensure that JRS could respond at late notice to the need of recently arrived children in four new pre-reception centres in Dublin. Any funding remaining after the purchase of gifts will be used exclusively to support asylum seekers in further education and training through the JRS Education Fund.”
Meanwhile, in Limerick the fantastic response from students, parents, staff and the wider Crescent College Comprehensive SJ school community to the annual Crescent Christmas Pyjama Appeal, coordinated by Grainne Delaney, ensured each of the 209 residents in Knockalisheen Direct Provision centre received a gift.
At the end of December Eugene Quinn, National Director, met Jamal and Abdi, two Somali refugees in Knockalisheen Accomodation Centre who gave a thumbs up and thanks for the Limerick Textile hoodies they had received under the Appeal. (See photo).
Niall Leahy SJ coordinated a dedicated parish-based toy drive in Gardiner Street and Jesuit Works also supported the wider fundraising appeal. Other JRS friends and partners, such as A&L Goodbody and Coláiste Dhúlaigh contributed too, focusing their efforts on supporting teenage asylum seekers.
Finally, Eugene Quinn, JRS Ireland National Director, acknowledged the continued and inspiring generosity of all who contributed to and supported 2021 JRS Ireland Christmas Toy Appeal: “JRS Ireland would like to express our deep gratitude – on behalf of each of the Toy Appeal beneficiaries in Direct Provision centres across the country – for the solidarity and kindness shown by individuals, schools, students, parents, communities, businesses and friends throughout the Irish Jesuit Province who supported so generously the 2021 JRS Ireland Toy Appeal. Truly it is hospitality in action.”
