The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation has opened a charity boutique located at Unit 1 and 2 Artane Place, Artane Business Park in Dublin 5. This is a huge milestone for the Irish charity which has 92 children under its care in Dublin today and 400 across the country in this its 25th anniversary year. The Dublin location is the 12th Jack and Jill shop and having this retail space in the capital is so important and has been a goal for a long time.
GAA legend John O’Leary, who now sits on the board of Jack and Jill, is switching sides from goalkeeper to shopkeeper for the launch day! John and his wife Catherine have availed of Jack and Jill’s home nursing care support for their youngest child Tom, who was born with a heart condition and a chromosome disorder. Tom is now 12 years of age and will also attend the launch.
“Jack and Jill really got us out of a black hole in the early years. The support we received from Jack and Jill made all the difference; they were a lifeline to our family, as we navigated the difficult journey of dealing with Tom’s care needs, while also juggling work and family life. Like lots of Jack and Jill families, our family will forever be part of the wider Jack and Jill community and I am very proud to be a board member of the charity and know how important this move into Dublin really is for that connection with our community. “I’m encouraging my fellow Dubliners to drop by to shop and donate clothes, homewares, toys or LEGO which has become a care currency for us too. We are also looking for more people to volunteer for a few hours each week and it’s great to see so many transition year students getting involved already.
Carmel Doyle, CEO of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation said: “We are so proud and so thrilled to be opening in Artane which is so important to our fundraising drive for specialist home nursing care for 400 children nationwide including 92 in Dublin. This is much more than a shop in Artane, it’s a real meeting point for our community.
“In this, our 25th Anniversary year, we are immensely proud to finally have this local presence in Dublin where so many of our families live. We are looking forward to welcoming Dubliners to our store, whether they are donating pre-loved items or in search of a bargain or giving us a few hours of their time to volunteer. Our boutique will be a treasure trove and provide a warm welcome to all. We have a mammoth fundraising hill of €1M to climb before the end of the year, to keep our vital service going, so all help is welcome, needed and appreciated,” Carmel concluded.
Noleen Galvin, Jack and Jill Artane Manager said: “We are delighted to be open in our lovely new premises in Artane and have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from people in the local community so far. Already, we have had some lovely new items donated to us, including never-worn designer ladies clothing. I am really looking forward to managing this boutique and working with our new volunteers to make this a great place to shop for our customers.”
Bargain-hunters are encouraged to drop in to check out the fantastic selection of pre-loved clothes, accessories, toys, books, LEGO, and household items that have been kindly donated to Jack and Jill.
Shop sales raise funds for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation which provides specialist in-home nursing care, respite support and end-of-life care for 92 Jack and Jill children across Co. Dublin and 400 across the country. These are children up to the age of six with severe to profound neurodevelopmental delay and may include children with brain injury, genetic diagnosis, cerebral palsy, and undiagnosed conditions. Another key part of the Jack and Jill service is end-of-life care for all children up to the age of six, irrespective of diagnosis.
The new shop will open from 10am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and is currently recruiting volunteers from Artane and the surrounding area who can spare a few hours a week to make a real difference to local families. For more information, please visit the store, email dublin@jackandjill.ie or call 087 391 0395.
Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation Charity Boutique, Unit 1 and 2 Artane Place, Artane Business Park, Dublin 5, D05 A2T3.
