In two separate appeals people are being asked to donate unwanted Christmas gifts to the homeless and to children.

Dublin’s St Mary’s Pro Cathedral has made space available at its the crib for such unwanted gifts, while children’s charity Barnardos has made a similar appeal.

Unwanted gifts donated at the Pro Cathedral will be taken into storage by Crosscare, the social care agency of Dublin Catholic archdiocese, to be redistributed to people in its homeless and residential projects this time next year.

Unwanted gifts such as games, clothing, hats, scarves and toiletries, collected there last year following a similar appeal, were given out in recent days to people who have been estranged from their families or who are living alone.

Earlier this month Crosscare staff opened a new hostel in Dublin’s north inner city for homeless people in a building donated by the archdiocese. It is providing 35 extra beds for homeless people.

Unwanted gifts may be left at the crib in the Pro Cathedral between now and January 6th.

Huge difference

Barnardos has launched its own appeal for unwanted Christmas gifts.

“Most of us, at one time or another, have received a Christmas gift we could do without: a Christmas jumper two sizes too small or a DVD we’ve already watched 100 times,” said Bernadette Harrington, shops manager at Barnardos.

“We work with children and their families all year round, and every donation can make a huge difference.”

Barnardos accepts all types of donations, including clothing, shoes, accessories, household goods, children’s toys, CDs and DVDs.

Donations can be dropped off at any of the seven Barnardos charity shops across the country. These are located in Co Carlow, in Wexford and Cork, and in Rathmines, Clondalkin, Kilbarrack, and Dún Laoghaire in Co Dublin.

Exact shop locations can be found at barnardos.ie/contact/ shop-locations.html.