The Crescent Shopping Centre Limerick has teamed up with Focus Ireland this Christmas to launch a Pop Up free Gift Wrapping store where people can get their gifts wrapped and give a donation to Focus Ireland. The Liam McCarthy Cup made an appearance for the official launch thanks to four time All-Ireland winner Aaron Gillane who was present to show his support.
Focus Ireland’s Fundraising & Marketing Executive, Aoife Sheehan, said of the pop-up shop, which is open through December, “It is with support like this that Focus Ireland is able to continue their crucial work in confronting homelessness and improving lives. We are quite appreciative of Crescent Shopping Center’s assistance during this particularly trying time, when we are dealing with both the homeless and cost of living crisis.
“Without the crucial services and housing Focus Ireland provides, the current situation of 265 persons in emergency housing in Limerick would be significantly worse. This means that in order to be there for individuals when they most need assistance, we now more than ever require public support.”
Grainne O Rourke Marketing Manager Crescent Shopping Centre said:
“In what has been a particularly difficult year for everyone, but especially for those experiencing homelessness this Christmas, the Crescent Shopping Centre is happy to be able to facilitate Focus Ireland’s fundraising efforts. We invite visitors to the Centre to make use of the Gift Wrapping Service, where donations will go to people in Limerick who are most in need.”
Focus Ireland in Limerick works with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes across Ireland. The charity is driven by the fundamental belief that homelessness is wrong. Wrong because it is a failure of society that creates victims out of ordinary people and robs them of their potential. Wrong because it can be prevented, it can be solved but is allowed to continue and in doing so, undermines society. In Limerick, Focus Ireland services supported nearly 300 households during 2021 who were homeless or at risk of losing their home as well as assisting 55 households to move out of homelessness.
Focus Ireland and Crescent would also like to thank EZ Living Furniture who provided all the Christmas decor in store. Pictured at the launch of the Gift Wrap Pop up is Focus Ireland Ambassador for the Midwest, Limerick hurler Aaron Gillane.
