As Christmas approaches, we’re expecting the weather to worsen and the days to get colder. However, for most people, this will be the warmest time of the year as they get to experience the comforts that typically accompany the holiday season. In doing so, however, they remain blissfully unaware of the estimated 6,525 people currently homeless in Ireland, who won’t have a bed to sleep in come Christmas Eve.
Every year, there are many drives and collections held in aid of the homeless, with charities seeking food, clothing or spare change. This year, two final-year English students from Trinity – Kelly Meehan Brown and Jack Maguire – have come up with their own unique, Christmas-themed fundraiser in aid of Focus Ireland.
Festive Fiction Findings is the brainchild of two literature aficionados, who believe wholeheartedly that books are the gift that keeps on giving. The aim is to collect second-hand books from any willing donors, wrap them up in Christmas cheer, and hide them, first all over Trinity’s campus, and then all over the city, with the aim of reaching as large an audience as possible. But how does this raise money for Focus Ireland?
Inside each book will be a special message, asking the lucky “finder” to donate €4 to Focus Ireland, either by texting “XMAS” to 50300 or via the website, along with an individual gift code. As an incentive to donate, uploading a screenshot of your text and code onto the Festive Findings Facebook page will result in automatic entry into a Christmas hamper draw.
The Christmas hamper prize contains an extensive assortment of vouchers and gifts, providing the recipient with ample means to truly treat themselves during their January blues. Included in the selection is a €100 voucher for Filmbase, two free tickets to any film screening at the IFI, a meal for two in O’Shea’s traditional Irish restaurant, free ice cream vouchers for Murphy’s, €30 store credit for Tola Vintage and Dingle Vodka from the Porterhouse.
The collections for the books took place at the beginning of December, with a special stand set up in the Arts Block on Thursday December 8th and Friday December 9th seeing a massive 250 books collected. Distribution of the books will be contained to Trinity for the project’s first day and will spread throughout the city during the following days.
Updates, event notices and clues as to the whereabouts of certain books will be made available through the initiative’s Facebook page. I implore everyone to take part in this truly worthwhile cause in any capacity that they can. Not only do you get to give something to help the homeless, you also get something in return: a book! This is your chance to get involved and do something to share some warmth and happiness with those less fortunate this Christmas.
