Direct Provision Christmas Toy Drive 2023

WE NEED YOUR HELP AGAIN THIS YEAR!

Times have been really hard for everyone lately, the world seems more tragic and difficult than ever, but imagine you are a child in a Direct Provision Centre through all of this.....

We want to make sure kids in DP know they are not forgotten.

In 2018, thanks to all of you sound heads we managed to get gifts for almost 100 children in Clondalkin DP Centre, in 2019 thanks again to you we got gifts for 500 kids and had a party in Dalymount thanks to RAMSI and Bohemian FC.

In 2020, even in covid we managed to raise €60,000 and get gifts for almost 2000 children across the island. In 2021 we raised over €80,000 and managed even more last year.

This year we’ve spoken to MASI - Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland and have set our target once again at every child in DP, children without the things other children take for granted - get behind this and let’s show them a huge Céad Míle Fáilte!

Due to the sheer volume of gifts we need to get we will be doing the majority of donations online again this year. If you can and are close to Bang Bang or Bohemian FC in Phibsboro you can drop gifts in too (new gifts only and unwrapped please, also we cannot accept very large items, or any second hand items whatsoever - pleas respect this request).

We've set a target of €80,000(€30 for each child) and we will then work with toy retailers and one-for-all to get gifts for all children.

This is a joint collaboration between Bohemian FC and Bang Bang who are leading on the call-out for donations.

The RDS, where all gifts will be sorted and packed. DHL Express Ireland who have agreed once again to deliver the packages to the centres across Ireland.

And MASI, who are co-ordinating the list of children and on-the-ground contacts.

Direct Provision needs to end - it is inhumane and degrading - Let's at least make it slightly better for children this Christmas