19.12.2018
Black Santa Continues Dublin Sit Out at St Ann’s
Dublin’s Black Santa Sit Out is continuing at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, with phenomenal support so far. The Vicar Canon David Gillespie and caretaker Fred Deane have been joined by a whole host of volunteers and visiting choirs and musicians.
Even former President of Ireland Mary McAleese stopped to give her encouragement to those who are standing outside the church each day until Christmas Eve.
Students from a number of Dublin schools along with members of choirs have been spreading Christmas cheer on Dawson Street since the appeal’s launch last Thursday. Members of the RTE Concert Orchestra braved Storm Deirdre to ensure that the appeal did not lack musical accompaniment on Saturday.
Canon Gillespie says that, as always, collecting for the Black Santa Appeal is a humbling experience. “I would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far. Anyone who is in the city centre over the coming days would be most welcome to drop by St Ann’s. We will be here over the coming days and on Christmas Eve,” he commented. “I also want to thank the team of volunteers who work behind the scenes to make sure refreshments are available for the many choirs who support the appeal.”
This is the 18th year that the Black Santa Sit Out has been held in Dublin and in that time well over €600,000 has been raised for local good causes. All the charities supported by Black Santa do invaluable work and every cent donated to the appeal is divided among them. There are no administration charges and all the collectors give their time for free.
Among the charities to benefit from Black Santa in the past are the Alice Leahy Trust, the Salvation Army, the Simon Community and the Peter McVerry Trust, all of whom work with people who are homeless. Other charities include Protestant Aid, Barnardos, St Vincent de Paul, the Laura Lynn Foundation and Solas Project. Cheques are distributed in St Ann’s in February at a special service which celebrates volunteers.
