Trending 2nd December 2025 by Aicha Chalouche

All The Christmas Drives Happening This Year

‘Tis the season for giving!

via Pexels

Everyone deserves to enjoy Christmas with their loved ones, but this season is often a very difficult time for families struggling financially or without homes.

Here’s a brief list of businesses and organisations doing charity drives this year, so you can do your part to help people in need. 

1. Lions Club Food Appeal

Lions Club have been running their annual Christmas food appeal since the 80s, and their clubs across the country manage to raise millions of euro worth of food for struggling families. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, you can find them in most chain and local supermarkets, where you can donate non-perishable food items that they use for hampers. You can also make cash donations at these spots, and many clubs allow you to make a donation online through their website if you can’t make it in person. 

2. Team Hope’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal

 

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You probably remember doing up these shoeboxes in school, but there’s no reason to stop now. Team Hope’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal asks donors to fill a shoebox with toys, stationary or hygiene products that they then deliver out to children suffering from poverty all over the world. In many cases, these shoeboxes are the only gifts these children will receive for Christmas, so it’s an amazing opportunity to help them feel that Christmas joy that the children you know get to experience every year. 

3. Direct Provision Donations

Direct Provision Donations are once again hosting their annual drive for gifts and essentials for those living in direct provision this Christmas. You can drop toys, gift sets, clothes, teddies, shower sets, and more to two designated spots in Dublin on December 19. All donations must be new, and will be delivered to those seeking asylum in Ireland’s direct provision centres.

4. SVP’s Gift Of Choice Voucher Appeal

 

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Saint Vincent de Paul is encouraging people to contribute to their Gift of Choice Appeal, where you can purchase a Me2You gift card for someone struggling this year. You can do the whole process online, just pick a bauble representing someone in need (different baubles are for different groups of people, so you can choose to donate to a child, teenager, adult or a family). Choose how much you want to put onto the card, and there you go! This appeal allows recipients to have more freedom in what they get for Christmas, hence the name.

5. Saoirse Christmas Gift Appeal

Domestic violence charity Saoirse are accepting donations for those living in shelters this festive season. The group are accepting essentials, toys, clothes, and gifts for women and children living in their refuges and using their domestic violence services. All donations must be new and can be delivered from December 15-22. Saoirse are also accepting financial donations through their website.

6. Tesco’s Christmas Food Collection

 

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Tesco’s annual Christmas food collection will be running from the 5th-7th of December, and customers are encouraged to buy one non-perishable product (such as porridge, canned food, rice or pasta) and leave it in the collection trolley in the shop. Since its first Christmas food collection, Tesco Ireland and its customers have donated around €2.9 million worth of food (about 2.3 million meals) to families across Ireland who need them the most. 

7. Friends Of The Elderly Give A Gift Campaign

This appeal allows you to donate a gift, ranging from yummy treats, cozy pyjamas or essential items, which are delivered by the charity to their elderly members so that they get a gift for Christmas too. It’s a great way to help someone celebrate Christmas when they otherwise wouldn’t receive anything. Friends Of The Elderly can also use these donations to help members celebrate their birthday!

8. Alzheimer Society of Ireland Christmas Cards

Like many other charities, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland releases Christmas cards each year, and all proceeds made from these cards go directly to the charity, which helps support people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as their families. They run this campaign every year, and the cards are very affordable, so it’s an easy way to donate to an amazing cause and get your Christmas cards sorted at the same time.

9. Bohemian Football Club Toy Appeal

 

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Dublin’s Bohemian Football Club is running a toy drive this year in aid of children living in emergency accommodation and international protection accommodation. In collaboration with Bang Bang, Focus Ireland, DHL, the RDS and Smyths Toys, the eighth annual drive hopes to bring joy and hope to children experiencing difficult circumstances during Christmas.