Dublin Simon Community’s Advent Calendar Campaign Highlights the Heartbreaking Reality of Homelessness This Christmas
Famous Faces Join Forces to Help Dublin Simon Raise €1.9 Million to Keep Services Open in 2025
28 November 2024: Dublin Simon Community has launched its Christmas campaign which aims to raise much-needed funds to keep its essential homeless services fully operational in 2025. With the number of people seeking emergency accommodation at record levels, the charity is asking members of the public to donate what they can, so that they can continue to help those affected by homelessness.
This year’s campaign centres around the powerful symbolism of doors, captured through an Advent calendar featuring 24 real Dublin doorways. At Christmas, doors are adorned with wreaths and lights, symbolising warmth and togetherness. For those experiencing homelessness, doorways often mean sleeping rough and feeling shut out. Dublin Simon’s campaign highlights this stark contrast and asks the public to help turn these doorways into gateways of hope and belonging this Christmas.
Emma Kilkenny, Director of Fundraising and Communications for Dublin Simon Community, said, “For many, this is the most wonderful time of the year. But for those experiencing homelessness, this time can mean little more than being left out in the cold. The number of people turning to us for help continues to rise, placing immense pressure on our life-saving services. We must raise €1.9 million this Christmas to keep Dublin Simon’s doors open in 2025 and continue supporting thousands of people in Dublin and beyond. This support is vital to ensuring no one faces the crisis of homelessness alone. If you can, please consider donating to Dublin Simon this Christmas.”
A Collective Effort to Keep Doors Open
As part of the campaign, a powerful TV ad tells the story of a man who is forced to sleep rough, reminiscing about receiving his first Advent calendar as a child, contrasting cherished memories with current struggles. Eagle-eyed viewers will recognise the Oscar award-winning busker in the video, Glen Hansard. Glen, a long-time Dublin Simon supporter, generously contributed his song “Winning Streak” to the ad. There will be special projections of the TV ad, starting with one at Grogan’s Pub on South William Street at 5pm on Sunday, 1st of December.
Many who hear the campaign over the airwaves will be familiar with the voiceover artist at the helm of the piece; it is none other than Emmet Kirwan, the renowned actor, playwright and screenwriter.
In addition to Hansard and Kirwan, the campaign celebrates the generosity of countless volunteers and supporters:
A Community of Hope – Art Auction: A unique opportunity to purchase artwork donated by some of Ireland’s most iconic artists, including Imelda May, Guggi and Gerard Byrne. Bidding opens on 28th of November and runs until 10th of December.
To learn more about this event click here
Sing for Simon Concert: Featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and a host of special guests, including Mary Black, Angeline Ball, Mary Coughlan and others on 13th of December at The Helix. Tickets available at www.thehelix.ie
Kilkenny added, “These wonderful artists and so many others have very generously given us their time this year. This campaign is a reflection of the incredible collective effort that fuels Dublin Simon Community. From the artists donating to our auction, to the talented musicians and volunteers who make Sing for Simon possible, to the public who so generously support our work—it all helps us make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. The thousands of people experiencing homelessness need that generosity more than ever this Christmas,”
To find out more about how you can help Dublin Simon Community open doors for the homeless this Christmas, click here