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WHILE CHRISTMAS IS a time for happiness and joy for many, for others it is when they feel the most isolated.
This is true for Ireland’s homeless community.
One Dublin initiative aims to help tackle this issue by getting people having a meal out during the festive season to make a small donation.
StreetSmart works by asking diners to add €2 on to the cost of their bill in a number of Dublin restaurants, money that is then donated to local charities.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, founder Brian Cuddy said:
This initiative gives restaurants the chance to help tackle the one issue that probably affects their staff and customers the most at the moment – homelessness.
The group says that its programme works off of a model of “acting together, and acting locally”.
The money raised goes to two of Ireland’s most prominent homeless charities, Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust.
Last year it raised close to €8,000 and projects that it will far surpass that this time around.
This year the organisation has almost doubled the number of restaurants that it is operating in and has changed to making the donation work on an opt-out system.
It has been running since the start of November and could potentially continue into January.
While the funds from the Dublin StreetSmart project will be going towards work within Ireland, other versions of the same scheme operate in countries including South Africa, Australia and the United States.
A full list of restaurants participating in the initiative can be found here.
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People are homeless all year and not just at christmas
Only 22 Restaurants but I will have a special night out at one of them and add €10 a head each. It’s not a lot. I can donate to Simon and Threshold etc. our family has agreed that we donate to charity instead of presents to each other this year.
Fantastic Fiona. Can’t afford the meal out but will donate instead. Christmas is pricey!!
Deborah, sadly, very many peole can’t afford even one splurge out at Christmas. Many households have budgets pared to the bone. Every euro counts.
One thing that has hit home to our family is that those with least to give are often the most charitable. We have known hard times. We will know hard time again but when there are a few extra euros it’s only right that the money goes to where it will do most good.
Great to see people pulling together to help these poor unfortunate people especially at this time of year, well done.
Well done, Street Smart. Shame on this “government”!
I personally will give something to these Charity’s so I know they get it ……i don’t need a middle man …..
I love eating out :-)
Was in town last night and could not believe the amount home homeless people . Very sad
€2 turns to 0.2p by the time the CEOs get their bonuses
have your say