Saoirse Domestic Violence Services have appealed to the public to support their campaign in granting families Christmas wishes this year.
The Saoirse women's refuge first opened in Tallaght in 2006. They have six apartments for women and children who are fleeing their home from domestic violence.
Since then, the organisation has expanded their outreach services and opened a second refuge in Rathcoole in 2020. Saoirse also offers a court accompaniment service to help women who are going through the legal process.
Read more: Christmas market in Dublin: Five top festive markets to attend this winter
Speaking to Dublin Live, CEO Allison Graham said that Christmas is a "challenging and emotional" time in the refuges. "Families obviously don't want to be there but sometimes it's the only safe place for them to be," she said.
"So we try to make it as Christmassy as possible. We do rely very heavily on donations in terms of gifts, vouchers etc so that we can make it a Christmas for the families.
"The families are struggling severely financially and they may have come into refuge with nothing."
Saoirse's Digital Marketing and Fundraising officer Aisling Finn explained that their Christmas Wish campaign is all about making sure the families have the everyday things that "we all take for granted".
"We have launched our Christmas Wish campaign recently and we will be continuing that in the run up to Christmas," she said. "It's an online platform where people can donate financial gifts or cash and those funds will be used to grant people's Christmas Wishes this year.
"It could be for our families in our refuges or the families in our outreach services. Basically we just want to grant people's Christmas wishes.
"People are asking for very basic things that everyone should have. Everybody should have a Christmas tree and be able to afford the electricity bill for their lights. Everybody should have a Christmas dinner and be able to travel down the country to visit family."
You can donate to Saoirse Domestic Violence Services' Christmas Wishes campaign here.
READ MORE
Top Dublin restaurant owner praised for decision to close on Christmas Eve
Christmas 2022: A comprehensive gift guide if you're struggling for ideas
Krispy Kreme to open new store at The Square Tallaght just in time for Christmas
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
