Age Action issues urgent appeal for donation of unwanted gifts

ONE of the country’s leading charities yesterday appealed for unwanted Christmas gifts.

Age Action said it can sell the presents at its charity shops to help elderly people and those in need.

Daragh Matthews, the charity’s business development chief, believes the donations could help them with much needed funding.

“Instead of leaving them in a drawer, donate them to Age Action and let us sell them in our charity shops,” he said.

Age Action has five charity shops, in Camden Street, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Monaghan, Castlebar and Upper Abbeygate Street, Galway.

They bring in essential cash for the organisation which uses it to help older people who wish to remain living in their own homes.

Age Action provides elderly people with a basic DIY and home visitation service, especially designed computer training courses and information about their rights and entitlements.

“Finding the funding to continue and expand these services is one of the biggest challenges for us in 2008, and our charity shops are a vital source of revenue,” said Mr Matthews.

“This will provide us with much-needed funding to continue and expand our work improving the quality of life of older people across Ireland.”

Because of safety laws the charity can only accept electrical goods if they are new and the packaging has not been opened while toys must have the CE mark.

“The shops cannot accept food, perishable items, alcohol or large items of furniture,” added Mr Matthews.

Unwanted gifts can be dropped in at any of the shops while Age Action also does a stock collection service in Dublin and Galway — telephone [phone].

The Catholic Church in Dublin is also seeking unwanted Christmas gifts for a festive scheme that passes them on to the homeless and needy.

The initiative, set up by Fr Pat O’Donoghue in Dublin’s Pro Cathedral, is now in its third year and is growing in popularity, according to organisers.

The priest is urging people to leave unwanted presents at the Pro Cathedral’s crib from this weekend until the feast of the Epiphany on January 6.

“It may seem ungrateful to be passing on a present that your friend or relative spent time and money purchasing, but most of us will be getting much more than we need or doubles of the same item,” he said.

“I think it is a great opportunity for people to consider those who went without this week, and at the same time putting some of our excess to good use.”

The gifts will be distributed around Dublin to people who may not have received any presents this year, by Crosscare — the social care agency of the Diocese.

Last year, hundreds of unwanted presents — in perfect condition — were given to people using Crosscare’s homeless and food services.