Community Garda hand over hampers to families
By Aideen O'Flaherty
COMMUNITY gardai from Tallaght Garda Station delivered sweets to local schoolchildren, and Christmas hampers which were donated by iCabbi to Barnardos in Tallaght, in the run up to Christmas.
The gardai typically bring Santa to local primary schools and hand out sweets to the children every Christmas, however this year the schools received a video of Santa for the children to watch and the gardai dropped off bags of sweets for them.
Sergeant Emer Lamon handing over sweets to Seamus Vaughan principal of St Dominic’s National School
Sergeant Emer Lamon from Tallaght Garda Station told The Echo: “Every year we do the Santa visit, where we go to local schools and give the children a treat afterwards.
“For some of the kids it’s the only time they get to see Santa during the year.
“For some children they might have seen us arresting people before, and we want to make sure the kids don’t see us as ‘the baddies’ all the time.”
The guards have also been collecting prescriptions and checking in on vulnerable people since the pandemic started, and are urging people to contact them if they need any assistance.
Garda Chris O’Callaghan with some of the hampers
“We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and there are people who are vulnerable and don’t have family or friends who can help,” said Sgt Lamon.
“It’s important for us to keep that connection with the community, and to help out as much as we can.
Staff from iCabbi with their children, iCabbi donated hampers to Barnardos
“We’re still here if people need help with their shopping, collecting prescriptions, or if they know of an elderly or vulnerable person that they would like us to call into and have a chat with.”
Anyone requiring assistance can call Tallaght Garda Station on 01 666 6000 or the community policing unit on 01 666 6020.
