Some Christmas cheer for those in the homeless hubs

A Tallaght woman brought some Christmas cheer to children in two local domestic violence refuges and a homeless hub when she delivered presents to them last week.

Brookfield woman Sarah Notaro masterminded the initiative, which culminated in a Christmas party in Fettercairn last Saturday for children from the refuges, the hub and the wider community.

However, this was preceded by a visit to the refuges and the hub the previous Thursday, when Sarah and her band of merry elves visited the children and their parents, with Santa as a special guest.

“We went to a homeless hub and went to two women’s refuges,” Sarah told The Echo.

“We gave the mothers and the children presents in the refuges.

“We gave the mothers, the fathers and the children presents in the homeless hub.

“The reaction from the refuges was basically like we started Christmas for them and brought the Christmas spirit – they couldn’t get over how amazing it was.

“We brought McDonald’s, we had a children’s entertainer who did balloons and played music, and businesses donated cookies and cupcakes that we brought for the mammies.

“The children and the mammies were delighted.”

The Christmas cheer was brought again on Saturday, when a party bus was donated which Sarah used to collect 70 children from the hub and the refuges to come to a Christmas party.

Held in the Fettercairn Community and Youth Centre, the Christmas party was also attended by children from the local area with over 100 children eagerly taking part in the festivities.

When asked why she decided to organise these events, Sarah said: “The motive was, being purely honest, that I left a relationship.

“I had a baby on my own, and I was left in a situation where I couldn’t work, and it was hard to make ends meet.

“I know what it feels like to be in a situation where you’re on your own and you’re really struggling.

“I went to St Vincent de Paul then and I got help, and I wanted to help other people to give them a bit of happiness during a really hard time for them.”

Judging by the feedback Sarah received after the events, she succeeded in bringing happiness to children and families who are in trying circumstances this Christmas.

“One mammy who was on the party bus with me turned to me and said, ‘My children will never forget this’,” recalled Sarah.

“When she said that, I just thought, ‘Oh my God, we pulled it off and this year they have a lovely memory that they’ll always remember.”

Sarah said she’s planning to hold the events again next year, which she promises will be even “bigger and better” than this year.

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