Bohemian F.C. are calling for the public to support their toy donation campaign for children living in Direct Provision.
The Phibsborough football club runs the campaign each year, and this year's donation deadline is fast-approaching.
The campaign, which they run in conjunction with the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, has a target of €60,000.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Bohs' COO Daniel Lambert said the club are looking for people to either donate money or new toys before Friday December 6th.
"People can drop in new toys to Bang Bang in Phibsborough, or to Bohemian FC in Phibsborough Towers," he said.
"We just have to get the toy order in by Friday."
Once the donations are finalised, Bohs buy toys for the children from Smyths Toys Superstores and the presents are sorted according to age suitability in the RDS in Dublin.
DHL then drop them off at various Direct Provision centres around Ireland.
We need your HELP - please dontate if you can and share widely🎄🧑🎄
Every year we raise tens of thousands of euro to get gifts for children in Direct Provision.
We need to raise a further €45,000 in the next 5 days to make it happen again.
This year they need a lift more… pic.twitter.com/c56jZOvfeo
— Bohemian Football Club (@bfcdublin) November 28, 2024
Mr Lambert said donating to the appeal is a "small way to really help" children living in these centres.
"It works out at about €15 per child for a toy, but speaking to parents afterwards, it really does make a big difference," he said.
"It's a small thing, but an important thing, especially given the year people have had.
"We've seen some of the centres have had crowds outside and chanting and aggression and at times violence, and that would have been seen by a lot of these kids."
Mr Lambert said the toy donation can help "counter" some of that aggression.
He said financial donations are preferable, however if people do want to donate toys, they should ensure that the toys are new.
Donations can be made via this GoFundMe link.
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Featured image: Christmas presents under Christmas Tree, Alamy
