04.12.2024
Black Santa 2024 – Online Donations Portal Now Open
Official launch: Tuesday December 17 at 1pm
The 2024 Dublin Black Santa Sit Out will be officially launched on Tuesday December 17 at 1pm at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street. The appeal will be launched by the Archbishop of Dublin and the Lord Mayor of Dublin together with the Vicar of St Ann’s. The children of the Kildare Place School Choir will be on hand to sing some well known carols and Christmas songs.
The primary focus of Black Santa’s fundraising efforts will be charities that support people in homelessness in the city.
The charities being supported this year include St Vincent de Paul, Simon, The Samaritans, Salvation Army, Protestant Aid, Alice Leahy Trust , Laura Lynn Foundation, Focus Ireland and the Solas Project, along with other local charities.
You can donate via the parish website www.stann.dublin.anglican.org or in person at the church with cash or card. As always, every cent donated is given to charity – everyone involved volunteers their time free of charge.
A huge array of choirs will join Black Santa each lunchtime to bring festive cheer to Dawson Street.
The Vicar, Canon Paul Arbuthnot is appealing to people to come out and support the Black Santa appeal.
“Once again St Ann’s, Dawson Street is calling upon the immense generosity of the people of Dublin to help those who are less fortunate. Our appeal supports local charities who seek to bring hope to those caught in the sadness of homelessness and distress in our society. If you are passing by St Ann’s the week before Christmas, please give as generously as you are able – any donation, no matter how big or small will go directly in its entirety to our nominated charities,” he commented.
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 became known as the Black Santa appeal because of the long heavy black cloaks worn by the clergy to keep out the cold. This is the 24th year that the Black Santa Sit Out has taken place in Dublin.
Last year, the Black Santa appeal raised €55,000. Over the past 24 years the Dublin sit out has raised over €850,000 with every cent donated going to the charities it supports.