08.02.2016
Black Santa Sit Out Puts Service Above Self – Charities Receive Their Share of Bumper Collection
Service to others was the focus yesterday (Sunday February 7) as representatives of a number of charities gathered in St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, for the distribution of the proceeds of the 2015 Black Santa Sit Out. A record sum of €41,400 was divided between the charities this year following a bumper collection outside the church before Christmas.
This was the largest amount ever to be collected in the Dublin appeal’s 15 year history and every cent donated by the people on the street was passed on to the benefiting charities which included: Solas Project, Protestant Aid, Church of Ireland Bishops’ Flood Appeal, TRUST, Society of St Vincent de Paul, Peter McVerry Trust, Salvation Army, Dublin Simon Community, Laura Lynn Foundation, Samaritans, Brabazon Trust, PACT, Hear 2 Help and Aware
Preaching at the service, the Archdeacon of Dublin, the Ven David Pierpoint said that the Black Santa Sit Out was about service to others, not just being a neighbour or friend to those in need but becoming a neighbour or friend of the marginalised in society. “As individuals, we have a responsibility to care for the most vulnerable in society but as a parish, as a Church, we must also show solidarity with those in need in many different ways, not least in this annual fundraiser for charity,” he stated.
In a world which is dominated by self interest, the Archdeacon wondered what would happen if the sentiment behind the Black Santa Sit Out was emulated by others in society – politicians, church leaders and the business community. “Politicians devoted to service above party politics; church leaders devoted to service above church protocol and the business community devoted to service above self–gain. Would this not mark the beginning of a just society?” he asked. The aims of the Black Santa Sit Out were precisely what the city needed: charity, selflessness, respect and above all service to others.
He said that the recipients of the funds knew only too well the needs of those less fortunate and their unstinting work for the marginalised in society deserved true recognition, not simply by receiving monies but in acknowledging the work done by their groups and the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure the money reached those who needed it most.
The powerful ideals of charity, selflessness, respect and service to others that lie behind the annual Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, are what Dublin city badly needs at this time. So said the Archdeacon of Dublin at the service at which €41,400 which was collected before Christmas was distributed to charities.
Speaking after the service, the Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon David Gillespie, paid tribute to all who had helped out during the appeal and to those choirs who had come along to perform during the sit out and added greatly to the festive atmosphere on Dawson Street.
On behalf of the charities, Geoff Scargill of Protestant Aid thanked Canon Gillespie and his team and congratulated the on the spectacular result of the appeal. He said that over the last 15 years almost half a million euro had been raised by the Dublin Black Santa Sit Out. “That is an amazing figure and it is painstakingly collected in one and two euros that people put into the bucket. We thank you most of all on behalf of the people who are the ultimate beneficiaries, the people to whom you have provided a chink of hope,” he said.
The Black Santa sit out is modelled on a similar appeal, which has been run by successive Deans of St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for many years in the days before Christmas. It became known as the Black Santa appeal because of the long heavy black cloaks worn by the clergy to keep out the cold.
Photo Caption – Representatives of the charities who received money from Black Santa 2015 in Dublin with the Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon David Gillespie, the Archdeacon of Dublin, the Ven David Pierpoint, and the Revd Yvonne Ginnelly at the Black Santa Service.