Local people are being urged to turn their unwanted festive gifts into funds to help needy older people.
Age Action, the development agency which promotes better services for older people, says by donating these presents to its charity shop at 25 Upper Abbeygate Street people can help improve the lives of older people.
“Instead of leaving them in a drawer, donate them to Age Action’s Galway shop and let us sell them,” says Age Action’s head of business development Daragh Matthews.
“This will provide us with much needed funding to continue and expand our work improving the quality of life of older people in Galway and across Ireland.”
The Galway shop is one of five Age Action charity shops which provide essential funding for its work.
“We work helping older people who wish to remain living in their own homes, providing them with a basic DIY and home visitation service, specially designed computer training courses and information about their rights and entitlements and campaigning to make Ireland the best place in the world to grow old.
“Finding the funding to continue and expand these services is one of the biggest challenges for us in 2009 faced with the economic downturn and our charity shops are a vital source of revenue,” explains Mr Matthews. “For every euro we receive in State support we have to bring in €8 from our fundraising activities.”
Unwanted gifts can be dropped in at the Galway shop. Age Action does a van stock collection service in both Dublin and Galway visiting more than 100,000 homes annually. Appointments can be made for the collection of goods by telephoning (01 ) 4756989.
However, the shops cannot accept some types of gift. “Due to safety regulations Age Action can only take electrical goods if they are new and the packaging has not been opened. Likewise, only toys which have the CE mark can be accepted. The shops cannot accept food, perishable items, alcohol or large items of furniture.”
He says the organisation is indebted to people who have donated items. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has donated goods or purchased items in our shops during 2008.”
