Direct Provision Christmas Gift Drive launched by Bohemian FC, MASI, Bang Bang, the RDS and DHL

In the run-up to Christmas, Bohemian FC has joined forces with MASI (Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland), Bang Bang café in Phibsboro, the RDS and club partners DHL, to launch a gift drive for children living in Direct Provision.

By Friday, they are collectively aiming to raise €80,000 – which would cover the €30 cost of giving a Christmas present to every child living in the system in Ireland.

"Times have been really hard for everyone lately, we are now collectively pulling through, but imagine you are a child in a Direct Provision Centre through all of this," the fundraiser description reads. "We want to make sure kids in DP know they are not forgotten."

As part of the gift drive, they're asking the public to – if they're in a position to do so – donate to their GoFundMe page, which will be used to purchase gifts. Alternatively, people can donate gifts themselves.

2022 marks the fifth year of the initiative. Despite the challenges of Covid-19, they managed to raise €60,000 in 2020, and get gifts for almost 2,000 children. In 2021, meanwhile, they raised over €80,000.

Gifts can be donated at the Bohemian FC Club office at Phibsboro Shopping Centre, from Monday to Friday, during office hours. They will only be able to accept new and unwrapped gifts, and will not be able to take very large, or second-hand items.

As of this morning, the GoFundMe has already raised nearly €42,000.