Every Child Is Your Child has set up a 'Backpack Drive' hoping to support children living in direct provision centres across the country.
As we all know, back-to-school time can be very costly for parents, however, for those living in Direct Provision times are even harder.
Direct provision is intended to provide for the welfare of asylum seekers and their families as they await decisions on their asylum application in Ireland, however, around 40% have been waiting for more than five years.
Unfortunately, parents in direct provision cannot work and have to live on an allowance of €38.80 a week. This means they cannot provide all the necessities to cover all the back-to-school related expenses for their children.
Every Child Is Your Child has set up a 'Backpack Drive' hoping to support over 2,000 children living in direct provision centres across the country right now and they need our help.
The voluntary led community group who aim to assist thousands of asylum seekers living in Direct Provision Centres are asking members of the public to pick up "an extra set of pencils, pens or a shirt the next time you go shopping," which will make a huge difference to a family living in immense poverty.
As part of the backpack drive, they need new school bags, stationery of all kinds including copy books, A4 pads and folders as well as lunch boxes, lunch bags and reusable drinking bottles. Shoes, runners and school jumpers in all sizes are also in high demand.
The not-for-profit group based in Limerick will be collecting white school shirts for both girls and boys in all sizes and socks in white, grey and blacks. Trousers and skirt in navy and grey are also needed.
At present there are nine drop off points across the country for those who would like to get involved, with more to be announced in the coming days:
Doras Luimní, Central Building, 51a O'Connell Street, Limerick
Student Union, University of Limerick Campus, Limerick
Teach Solais, Victoria Place, County Galway
GARN, 16 Lough Atalia Road, Galway City
Clare PPN, Clonroad Business Park, Ennis, County Clare
Irish Refugee Council, 37 Killarney Street, Mountjoy, Dublin 1
Cork Flower Studio, 104 Douglas Street, County Cork.
The Rectory, Main Street, Stradbally, County Laois
One Albert Quay, Reception Desk, County Cork
The Every Child Is Your Child group is accepting gift cards for Dunnes, Tesco and One4All vouchers for those who want to donates but can't make it to the shops to pick any of the items listed above.
The last day for the collections is Sunday, August 25th, so if you're looking to do a good deed, get your skates on and head to your local Dealz, Mr Price or even Aldi and pick up whatever you can.