Bags and bling the secret of girlie giving

IT isn’t easy turning a charitable donation into a fun, girly event, but if anyone can do it, it’s the bubbly Sharon Crosbie, who knows you don’t have to be solemn to be serious.

The wife, mother, singer and chair of the children’s aid charity First Step Georgia was horrified at the unfolding human tragedy in Somalia, and her immediate instinct was to do something to help.

“I looked at it on television and saw one woman having to leave her dying child at the side of the road. I couldn’t stop crying. It was no wonder Mary Robinson was close to tears — it was heartbreaking. As a mother myself, I felt I had to try and do something.”

A chat with a neighbour led to a plan for a bag and jewellery swap to raise money to help the mothers of Somalia and their children. This has grown into a designer Bling and Bags event in Dublin next month, thanks in large part to Caroline Desmond of MCD promotions.

Caroline has rallied her friends to donate their bags. Pop duo Jedward have designed a bag themselves especially for the event, which will also be donated to the cause.

“The generosity of people in offering their bags, jewellery and time has been overwhelming,” Sharon said yesterday, as she went off to get her hands on pop-up bins to put the bags into.

“TV3 were in touch offering to help as soon as they heard about the idea, and the artist Graham Knuttel has donated 10 signed bags. The ladies behind Fran and Jane have donated jewellery from their boutiques. Aidan Fitzgerald, the well-known hairdresser, has donated 200 goodie bags and Irish designer Deborah Veale has donated a beautiful bag from her collection.”

The owners of the Lost Society in Powerscourt Townhouse, William Street South, Dublin 2, have offered their premises for the day.

“The phones are hopping with enquiries and pledges of support,” Sharon says.

“Depots have been set up in Dublin and also in Cork city, Kinsale and Carrigaline. This is going to be such a fun ‘girlie event’.

“It’s all about women helping women — and the more bags the better.”

Entry to Bling and Bags is open to everyone. Admission is free and all proceeds will go to the Somalian Famine Relief Fund administered through the office of the former Irish president Mary Robinson.

The fundraising sale takes place on Saturday, August 20, from 10am-5pm at the Lost Society, Powerscourt Townhouse, William Street South, Dublin 2. To donate a bag in Dublin contact Sharon on [e-mail].