HSE West’s primary community and continuing care staff in Mayo have launched the Bronntanas Christmas project for the fifth year running. Bronntanas is a group of HSE staff in Mayo, their families and friends and volunteers from various organisations, who come together in the weeks before Christmas to organise the giving of presents anonymously to children in families who are under financial strain. This is carried out under the guidance of the Childcare Department in Mayo HSE PCCC.
The group cites the story of Amy as an example of the type of child who will benefit from Bronntanas. Amy is a little five-year-old girl who is really looking forward to Christmas. She has written to Santa for a baby doll, but Mammy and Daddy say she will have to wait and see, as Santa has a lot of other children around the world to visit. Amy is confused as she has been really good this year. Doesn't Santa bring toys to all the children who have been good?
Noreen Heston, Finance Department, St Mary’s Hospital, one of the organisers of the Bronntanas project, said: “In today's society it is difficult for us to believe that many families in our community are under severe financial strain in the lead-up to Christmas. At a time when parents should be able to relax and enjoy the build-up to the festive season, many are extremely anxious that their children may be disappointed on Christmas morning.”
Many of us may wish to give a Christmas present to a child at Christmas. But how do we know who or where these children are? Under the Bronntanas project, each volunteer is given the initials of a child, their age, whether they are a boy or girl, and what they would like for Christmas. The importance of the suitability of the present for the particular child is more important than the actual amount spent on the present.
Ms Heston added: “Many volunteers throughout the county of Mayo have worked very hard over the past number of years and have made a real difference to children in their local areas at Christmas. By giving a child in your local area a present, you can help to ease some of the stress attached to the financial burden which is on families, and give these families the chance to relax and enjoy this special time together.”
If you would like the opportunity to help needy children in Mayo in this way, or would like to assist the group in the organising of it, please contact Bronntanas c/o [email protected] or call 094 904 2233.
