Public urged to shop at our Jack & Jill boutiques in support of the 402 children cared for by the charity nationwide.
Bells may be ringing, but it’s hoped that tills will most definitely be singing at Jack & Jill’s charity boutiques in this Christmas.
The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation is calling on the public to support local and buy local this Christmas as staff work day and night decking the aisles with lots of treasures, trinkets and stocking fillers to behold.
Indeed, it’s the most important time of the year for Jack & Jill with Christmas sales a key component of its annual fundraising activity, with money raised locally going to support the local families with highly complex medical conditions cared for by Jack & Jill.
Our shops, which are located in Arklow, Crookstown, Gorey, Kilkenny, Loughrea, Newbridge, Portlaoise, Tullamore and Wicklow are open from Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm.
Jack & Jill’s mission is to empower parents to care for their child at home, because there is no care like home care for a Jack & Jill child, especially at Christmas time. Set up by parents for parents nearly 25 years ago, Jack & Jill provides in-home nursing care and respite for children up to the age of six with severe to profound neurodevelopmental delay, including children with brain injury, genetic diagnosis, cerebral palsy and undiagnosed conditions. Another key part of Jack & Jill’s service is end-of-life care for children under the age of six, regardless of the diagnosis.
So, what are the must-have items that see the public flocking to stores?
For Head of Retail, Deirdre Walsh, it can vary from a vintage dress for that Christmas night out to a designer candle for that cosy night in!
“At Jack & Jill, customers know that we are all about quality and value. There’s so much choice! From bargain dresses and matching handbags, to sacks of LEGO and signature scented candles, specially designed for Jack & Jill by Paul & William Costelloe. Many of the items in store are leading brands donated by generous retailers on the high street, while many of our pre-owned clothes have never been worn and still have their shop labels on! At a time when we are all thinking of how we can help save our planet, it’s good to know that making a purchase at Jack & Jill is the perfect sustainability choice.
For the man or woman who has everything, we also have Gift of Time cards. Each donation of €18 funds one hour of home nursing care, giving parents time to do the normal things like Christmas shopping, catching up with a friend, enjoying a walk with the other siblings, or simply having a nap to recharge – safe in the knowledge that their sick child is well cared for at home. There’s always a Christmas gift for everyone at Jack & Jill.
Of course, we know that for many there is even greater joy in giving rather than receiving. And, so, we are always delighted to accept donations of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, books, ornaments and, of course, every child’s favourite, LEGO.”
For Carmel Doyle, CEO of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, 2021 has been another difficult year:
“This has been another very challenging year for our families, our nurses, our volunteers, our shop managers and our fundraisers at Jack & Jill. We have more families than ever, relying on us for support, with 402 children under our care nationwide. With another €500,000 to raise in one last fundraising push to the end of the year, we are relying on the public for their continued support. Every purchase and every donation translates into home nursing care hours and a real gift of time for local children and their families.”
Jack & Jill has also recently launched its #HomeForChristmas collection and its online shop has a range of items on sale, including limited edition signed prints from its much-loved Incognito art sale, to enchanting Christmas cards and deluxe wrapping paper. To view the collection, or to make a donation, visit www.jackandjillstore.ie.
For further information, please contact us at [email protected].
