Tiglin appeal for 500 sleeping bags

AN appeal for 500 sleeping bags for the Christmas period and New Year has been made by addiction charity Tiglin.

The sleeping bags are being sought by the No Bucks Cafe, an outreach service run by Tiglin.

A bus donated to Tiglin in 2009 was turned into the No Bucks Cafe which takes up residence in Dublin each Thursday night with volunteers providing sandwiches and tea and coffee.

Tiglin also operate a residential treatment centre for men and women in Rathnew.

Tiglin’s CEO Phil Thompson said: ‘Every one of the 184 people sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin will need a fresh sleeping bag nightly. With the current harsh weather conditions, the demand is greater. We don’t want to see anyone on the streets without a warm dry bag to sleep in.’

The No Bucks Cafe has set up a page to donate directly to the sleeping bag appeal and there is a facility to drop off clean bags to the café.

One of the coordinators of the cafe was once homeless and now spends his time helping others who are sleeping rough.

He said: ‘ The bus is manned by people like me, who were homeless and had addiction problems but went on complete the Tiglin programme and have come out the other side of a very difficult journey. That, in itself, makes a big difference to those who are currently on the streets and see no way out of their addiction problem.’

All funds raised will help to make life more bearable for those sleeping on our streets this festive season. The focus will be on providing basic needs such as sleeping bags, hats, gloves underwear and toiletries.

To make a donation visit www.gofundme.com/basicneeds-for-the-homeless.