Aldi Ireland has boosted its Christmas support for Barnardos, bringing much-needed relief to Irish families facing financial challenges.
This year, the retailer will donate €40,000 in gift cards to its charity partner to help families with their essential food shop and gifts in the lead-up to Christmas.
The retailer made this donation to its charity partner alongside an additional donation of €40,00 from the sale of selected products, including Christmas cards, Kevin the Carrot toys, and Merry Milkmas milk cartons.
Through these gift card donations and sale proceeds, Aldi will donate a total value of €80,000 to Barnardos this Christmas.
In 2023, Barnardos supported over 26,000 vulnerable children and parents in Ireland, providing essential services and creating positive change.
As demand for support across Ireland continues to grow in 2024, this donation from Aldi comes at a relevant time, allowing Barnardos to help more families across the country during the Christmas season.
Survey
A survey of 1,000 parents – commissioned by Barnardos and carried out by Amárach Research earlier this year – found that almost half of those surveyed (47%) said that they and their children had gone without or cut down on heating, electricity, medical care and food this year.
A further four out of five parents (81%) stated that cost-of-living issues had negatively affected their children, and almost a quarter (24%) said that they have had to borrow money to feed their children in the last year.
Aldi’s support will help the charity, as it works to support families during this challenging time.
‘Support Those Most At Risk’
Speaking about the work that the charity does, the head of partnerships at Barnardos Ireland, Kate Conroy, said, “Over the last five years, we’ve seen the need for our work to grow, year on year – families struggling like never before – but we know that by working with a national partner like Aldi, we can support those most at risk, creating opportunities for access to targeted interventions, support, literacy and education, as well as developing deep community connection.
“We can work together to change the story for vulnerable children in Ireland today – because childhood lasts a lifetime.”
Rachel Nugent, the national sustainability manager at Aldi Ireland, added, “At Aldi, we’re committed to supporting local communities and the people that live in them.
“That’s why working with charities such as Barnardos and supporting the incredible work that they do is so important to us.
“Our donation this year will help support 800 families.
“The gift cards, in particular, will not only help alleviate some of the financial burden of the Christmas season for parents, but they also allow families the autonomy to spend their gift cards on whatever they please, be that Christmas turkey or on toys from the middle aisle, for under the tree.”
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