Coins for the Community puts charities first on the bucket list
By Mary Dennehy
JOBSTOWN House and its customers have raised the bar when it comes to supporting local, with the Tallaght pub starting an innovative charity campaign called Coins for the Community.
The new campaign came about after the pub wanted to raise funds for charities, groups and clubs working on the ground in Tallaght communities.
John Kilbride of Jobstown House with Liam Kelly and Frances McNulty of Tallaght Cancer Support Group
The very first #coinsforthecommunity campaign recently finished, and resulted in €1,500 being raised for the Tallaght Cancer Support Group – through two donation buckets on the pub’s counter.
Speaking with The Echo, John Kilbride of Jobstown House said: “Each charity or group gets three months each . . . and we encourage customers to use the buckets for their loose change.
“We are a real local, local pub and it’s nice to give something direct back to the community.
“We are just facilitating [this campaign] – it’s our customers donating.”
According to John, all local charities, groups and clubs can put themselves forward or be nominated for the fundraising campaign – once it’s a local cause, working on the ground in local communities.
The idea for Tallaght Cancer Support Group came from one of John’s customer’s Liam Kelly, with the pub hoping that the campaign not only raises direct funds but awareness of local supports and services in the area.
At the end of each three-month campaign, the pub holds a ‘wrap party’ to raise a few more quid and to hand over the cheque.
Speaking with The Echo, Frances McNulty, Tallaght Cancer Support Group, said: “It’s a great initiative, and we’re hoping other pubs in the area could take it on.
“A big thank you to all of the customers at Jobstown House . . . this money will help us to keep all of our services free, which is so important.
“Also, from September we will be opening every day and hope to take on an acupuncturist, so this money will help towards that.”
The local group selected for the second Coins for the Community campaign is Sensory Fun with Friends, a parent-led voluntary group that holds events for children with sensory needs.
For further details on #coinsforthecommunity follow the Jobstown House Facebook page.
For more on the free services and supports of the Tallaght Cancer Support Group, which is based in Tallaght Village, visit the Tallaght Cancer Support Group Facebook page, www.tallaghtcancersupport.com or call 086 4002736.
TAGS Tallaght
