09.12.2020
Online Donations Open for Dublin Black Santa Appeal
Black Santa 2020 is now receiving online donations. The physical sit out will take place outside St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, in the days running up to Christmas but you can donate online now on the St Ann’s website: www.stann.dublin.anglican.org
This year, more than ever, the charities supported by Black Santa need your support. Their fundraising income has taken a massive hit but the needs of those who rely on them remain the same.
This is the 20th anniversary of the Black Santa Sit Out in Dublin and in that time it has reaised over €700,000 for local good causes.
In normal times, the Vicar, Canon David Gillespie, and caretaker, Fred Deane, are a familiar sight outside the city centre church joined by a host of volunteers bearing buckets and accompanied by numerous choirs who bring festive cheer.
This year, the choirs cannot join them and footfall in the city centre is greatly reduced. Many people who make a special trip into Dawson Street to make their donation may not be able to do so.
The online donation facility means that all who usually give can continue to do so and those who don’t normally get to Dublin at Christmas time have the opportunity to contribute too. As always, every cent donated goes directly to the charities supported by Black Santa. Donations can be made by cheque payable to St Ann’s Church Black Santa Appeal c/o St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin 2.
The charities who receive funds from the Black Santa Sit Out include the Salvation Army, The Simon Community and the Peter McVerry Trust, all of which work with the homeless and also Protestant Aid, Barnardos, St Vincent De Paul, the Laura Lynn Foundation and the Solas Project.
Black Santa in Dublin is modelled on a similar appeal, which has been run by successive Deans of St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for many years. It has become known as the Black Santa appeal because of the long heavy black cloaks worn by the clergy to keep out the cold. All the charities supported by Black Santa do invaluable work and every cent donated to the appeal is divided among them.