During the festive season, some of us like to take the goal of “goodwill to all” to heart. Be it a donation in the name of a loved one or a more personalised gift option, there’s no shortage of ways to give a present while helping someone in need.
“We know how difficult everyone is finding things right now,” says Kate Conroy, head of partnerships at Barnardos Ireland. “And there are so many wonderful causes to support.
“We know that when a person or company chooses to support Barnardos, we owe it to them to spend their donations wisely, to make a true and lasting impact, to help change the story for vulnerable children. That’s why we have so many lovely options to spread the Christmas joy with family and friends while making an impact for a vulnerable child or family.”
The options available from Barnardos include standard financial donations but also gifts targeted at the needy, including pyjamas and meals. The charity has also partnered with Aldi, with proceeds from certain products including the special-edition Merry Milkmas Christmas milk carton and selected Kevin the Carrot-themed toys.
READ MORE
Concern has taken a personalised approach to its options for gifting this Christmas.
“Concern’s Christmas gifts campaign offers a range of ethical gifts that fund life-changing programmes in health, education, emergency response and livelihoods. Each gift is designed to make a real difference for families living in extreme poverty,” says Sarah Mackey, Christmas gifts coordinator at Concern.
Given Ireland’s strong rural and farming traditions, one type of gift has proven more popular than others for Concern.
“Animal gifts remain the most popular choice, closely followed by farming-related gifts. Many supporters come from agricultural communities and understand first hand how transformative these gifts can be,” says Mackey.
“Perhaps it’s no surprise that these gifts resonate so strongly here in Ireland. The memory of times when food security was fragile connects deeply with the idea of helping families overseas achieve independence and dignity.”
The personal approach extends beyond the natural familiarity with agriculture too; Mackey has noticed that people are seeking out other practical gifts.
“A trend we’ve seen recently is the growing popularity of smaller, tangible gifts that feel personal and immediate, such as school kits or warm blankets for children,” she says.
“These gifts create a strong emotional connection because donors can picture the impact on a child’s life.”
Focus Ireland has targeted its efforts around its Sponsor a Star campaign. This invites companies to sponsor stars on its Christmas trees in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. With the general public, the focus is mainly on direct donations.
“Each star represents real and immediate support. It helps fund our frontline services during the busiest period of the year, including family support, child and youth services, hot meals, outreach work, and the long-term housing assistance that helps people move on from homelessness for good,” says Gráinne Kennedy, head of philanthropy and partnerships at Focus Ireland.
“As winter sets in and demand for our services increases, your generosity ensures we can respond swiftly and continue offering care and stability to those who need it most.”
Like Concern and Barnardos, Focus Ireland has noticed that people want to be able to find meaning in the gifts they give.
“Increasingly, people are choosing gifts that feel purposeful and reflect the true spirit of Christmas. We are seeing a growing preference for symbolic giving: companies choosing a star as part of their end-of-year CSR activity, and individuals donating a Christmas gift on behalf of loved ones rather than purchasing traditional presents,” says Kennedy.
“This is especially common among families and workplaces who want a gift that feels personal, socially conscious and impactful.”
The general feeling of goodwill at this time of year is one that charities don’t take for granted. Mackey says it is a pivotal period for those in the sector.
“Christmas is absolutely one of the most critical periods for our fundraising efforts. The income we generate during this season is vital, not just because of the volume, but because of the breadth of impact it enables,” she says.
“These funds don’t go to one country or a single programme; they support our four key areas: emergency response, education, health and livelihoods. That means every gift purchased or donation made helps us deliver life-saving aid, keep children in school, improve maternal health and empower families to build resilience, all at once.”
The generosity of the season is crucial to enable charities to provide their services across the board all year.
“Christmas giving is vitally important. This season consistently represents one of the most generous and impactful periods of the year. A significant portion of our voluntary income arrives in November and December, and this funding allows us to respond swiftly and compassionately, delivering warmth, stability and hope when it is needed most,” says Kennedy. “This generosity ensures we can continue standing alongside those facing crisis, long after the decorations come down.”
That’s why this is an ideal time to think about what it is you are giving to your loved ones at this time of year. For some, that gift of giving is greater than any trinket.
“It is a desire to give with purpose. In a world that often feels uncertain, people want their generosity to do more ... they want it to change lives,” says Kennedy.
“A donation is not just a gift; it is a message of hope, a gesture of solidarity and a way to help someone in crisis.”
