McDonnells has announced that it will be working with ALONE again this year and involved in supporting the charity’s ‘ALONE at Christmas’ campaign.
ALONE at Christmas offers the public first-hand advice as to how they too can end the silent epidemic of loneliness and social isolation amongst older people.
Inspired by ALONE’s Christmas Campaign, McDonnells Curry Sauce said that it dinated €10,000 to ALONE to kickstart the 2021 Christmas campaign and partnership.
In addition, they are providing McDonnells food hampers to all members of the ALONE housing network to enjoy over the festive period.
Give This Christmas
ALONE and McDonnells explained that they want to encourage people all across the country to pledge one act of giving this Christmas to an older person.
Announcing McDonnells ALONE charity Initiative, Barry Synnott, CEO of Boyne Valley Group commented, "As we approach another tough Christmas, now more than ever, it is important to look after the most vulnerable and isolated."
"No one wants to spend Christmas alone, this is why it is so important to support & share the ‘ALONE at Christmas’ campaign to the public and the McDonnells community. We recognise that even the smallest gesture can light up someone’s day and we hope, along with ALONE, to encourage many people to pledge one act of giving to an older person this Christmas," he added.
As we face into another difficult Christmas, we want people to know that making a difference to someone at this time is as easy as checking in and reaching out.
In support of the ALONE Christmas Campaign, McDonnells said that it is giving away 5 x €1000 cash prizes across its social media pages.
McDonnells are asking people to nominate that person in your life who is the giver, the person who puts others first and deserves to be acknowledged this Christmas.
Increased Demand
In the last two years, there has been a huge increase in demand for ALONE’s services, the service has been a lifeline for older and more vulnerable people in communities across Ireland.
In 2021, ALONE has supported nearly 8,000 new older people. ALONE’s staff and volunteers have made 164,000 calls and visits and they have answered 18,000 calls from older people seeking support, advice or a friendly voice. ALONE’s amazing volunteers have achieved 104,000 hours of volunteering during this timeframe.
Niall Horan, an avid supporter of ALONE’s work added, “ALONE is an incredible charity that provides an invaluable service to the community. ALONE’s Christmas campaign ‘ALONE at Christmas’ is an important reminder for us all to reach out to the vulnerable in our society, whether that be a phone call or a knock on a neighbour’s door to check in.
"These small gestures can have big impacts and help the older & vulnerable in our community to not feel as alone this Christmas. I, like many others, am inspired by ALONE’s work and am thankful to their volunteers, the public and McDonnells in helping to support their Christmas campaign,” he said.
If, like McDonnells, you’ve been inspired by the work of @alone.ireland you can donate now at www.alone.ie/donate - helping ALONE to be there for lonely and isolated people this Christmas, New Year and throughout 2022.
© 2021 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more a brands news click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
