The VFI has said that 50 of its members in the city will get staff to dress up as Santa for the special collection which will start on Friday, December 5.

Each bar aims to raise €1,000 with bucket collections which will continue over 12 nights until Tuesday, December 23.

VFI local chairman Ray Kennedy said publicans wanted to help the charity because it did so much good for the needy in Cork.

Last year he said he hosted 100 poor and malnourished people for a pre-Christmas meal at The Thomond bar in the city centre and saw at first hand how some people were barely surviving.

St Vincent de Paul regional president Donal Kelly said he was delighted with the VFI’s collection.

“January is the worst month for people as they spend a lot coming up to Christmas. They still have to eat and pay bills next month and this is where the money will come in very handy for us. What the VFI is doing is inspiring and I know there’s a reservoir of goodwill amongst the public which will make it successful,” Mr Kelly said.

Gerry Garvey, the charity’s south-west regional administrator, said the St Vincent de Paul annual appeal is also generating a great response. “We are receiving hundreds of donations and car draw ticket purchases through the regional office in Cork. In addition, more than 7,765 Giving Tree Tags have been distributed to schools, companies, offices, businesses and community groups and our Giving Tree stand is open in Merchants Quay Shopping Centre until December 21.”

He said these efforts will result in more than 8,000 toys/gifts and thousands of food donations provided to St Vincent de Paul for less fortunate families.