At least 2,700 to collect Christmas food parcels in Dublin

Brother Kevin Crowley of Dublin’s Capuchin Day Centre summed up the plight of some children this Christmas by recalling the words of one boy last year: “Brother Kevin, will Santy know where I am this year? Will he be able to find out where I am staying?”

In a week in which the homeless crisis hit new levels, at least 2,700 people are expected to attend the Day Centre in Dublin’s Bow St today for its Christmas Parcel Day, collecting specially prepared food parcels.

Last year, around 3,000 people received a parcel and more could attend today, with 2,700 tickets issued last week in a bid to streamline the process and reduce the amount of time people will have to spend queuing.