Volunteers have homeless shoebox appeal wrapped up

A dedicated group of Galway volunteers are taking a more local approach to the traditional Christmas Charity Appeal and providing a real depth to the saying “Charity begins at home”.

A group of twelve committee members have set up an appeal which serves to benefit the homeless in the city through a simple, festively-wrapped shoebox filled with necessities in mind of a person on the streets.

The initiative originated after Geraldine Monaghan was flooded with emails and messages of support for a suggestion she posted on her Facebook page.

‘What would you think about doing shoeboxes for the homeless, would it work?’” said Geraldine, of Holistic Rainbow Clinic.

“Just putting in essential things like a toothbrush and a hair brush, that kind of thing. I came back and I had about forty emails and so many messages with everybody saying yes, yes, we’ll definitely do that!”

Since the post, Geraldine has been flooded with unbelievable support from right around the county, vowing to make the Galway Homeless Christmas Appeal an annual occurrence.

“There’s been a lot in the media about homelessness around the country and the biggest thing for me was that everyone was saying it’s a national crisis, but I don’t think that that was actually hitting home, that it was outside of the Pale and that it’s also a Galway crisis,” she explained.

Geraldine couldn’t believe the influx of support she received for her idea and rounded up a committee group to help her, including independent councillor Mike Cubbard.

Since then, almost one thousand people have pledged to donate a festively-wrapped shoebox filled with necessities for homeless folk of the city.

Their mission is to get as many Christmas shoeboxes as possible for the Galway homeless and the instructions are simple: wrap a shoebox and its lid with Christmas wrapping separately, then fill the box with goods and necessities with a homeless person in mind.

Almost anything is allowed – toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, moisturiser, new socks and underwear, warm hats, chocolate bars, deck of cards, notebook- but strictly no money.

Seeing as adult men make up the majority of the homeless population in Galway, according to Geraldine, actual shoes are also being sought – the most commonly requested being a size eight.

The aim is for all shoeboxes to be collected by Sunday, November 29, with drop off locations to be decided.

The group is looking for anyone who might be able to provide drop off locations, print t-shirts or leaflets to get in touch through the ‘Galway Homeless Christmas Appeal’ Facebook page.