Mags Gargan
Some of the gifts donated to the Crosscare Unwanted Gifts Appeal 
Unwanted gifts to be distributed by social care agency to homeless
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Dublin has issued its annual appeal for unwanted gifts to benefit the homeless.
Up until January 6, those who may have received a Christmas gift they feel they can do without – such as games, toys, clothing, hats, scarves and toiletries – are being urged to consider others less fortunate and to donate the gift at a space staff have made available at the crib in the cathedral.
Pro-cathedral administrator, Fr Damian O Reilly said that despite the hours spent choosing and wrapping it is inevitable that hundreds of presents will simply not be used. “By bringing us your unwanted gifts, we can ensure that the time, money and care that went into buying them result in bringing happiness to someone in need next Christmas,” he said.
Redistribute
The unwanted gifts are taken into storage by Crosscare, the social care agency of the Dublin archdiocese, which will redistribute them as gifts to people in their homeless and residential projects next Christmas.
The diocesan drive has been extraordinarily successful in recent years, with van loads full of gifts being transported from the cathedral over the course of the appeal. Many of the unwanted gifts collected during the 2013 appeal were distributed last week to hundreds of families and individuals estranged from their families or living alone.
Following the donation of a diocesan building earlier this month, Crosscare staff opened a new hostel for homeless people in the space of just two weeks, providing 35 extra beds for those without a home.
The Crosscare food appeal before Christmas was met with what Archbishop Martin described as “remarkable generosity” with parishes donating almost the same amount in one weekend as was donated over three collections last year.
People can leave their unwanted gifts at the crib in St Mary’s Pro Cathedral up until January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. Opening hours for the cathedral are available on www.dublindiocese.ie