Baz launches ALONE & An Post’s ‘Do One Thing’ Christmas Campaign
Pictured at the launch of the campaign in the GPO were Michael & Sheila from ALONE with Baz Ashmawy. Picture: Jason Clarke.
Make Christmas less lonely by sending a card to an older person living alone
16th November 2017 This Christmas, ALONE, the charity that supports older people to age at home, has partnered with An Post for its ‘Do One Thing’ campaign. Baz Ashmawy launched the campaign which encourages members of the public to reach out to older people experiencing loneliness by sending them a personalised An Post card.
Speaking at the launch, Baz said, “We are asking people to do one thing this Christmas – send a lovely Christmas card to an older person! For just €5 you can go online, order a card and write a nice message to an older person linked in with ALONE. An Post will then print and post the card. Every card sent will raise money for ALONE, as well as making a huge difference to that older person’s Christmas.”
€3.20 from every card sold will go directly to ALONE’s services. The organisation provides friendship, support, social events, and housing to older people. ALONE services ensure that no older person is left isolated and lonely.
Special packs of theALONE Christmas cards are also available for companies to purchase. By purchasing a pack of 100 or 500 Christmas cards online, companies can make a donation to ALONE while ordering high-qualityChristmas cards which can be personalised with a logo or personal message inside.
Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director, Mails and Parcels, An Post, said “A personal message is really powerful, particularly at Christmas. We are appealing to members of the public to order one of the An Post personalised Christmas cards and share a few kind words with an older person who may be isolated or lonely this Christmas. It is our hope that this campaign will make Christmas less lonely for many older people and raise significant funds for ALONE.”
Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, commented, “We are delighted to partner with An Post this year for Christmas. ALONE offers friendship, support, and housing all aimed at ensuring no older person is left lonely or without the care and support they need. It is our hope that the funds raised through this campaign can bring a little Christmas magic back into the lives of older people and that the money raised will be used to spread that magic throughout the year”.
To order your Christmas Cards and help ALONE today go to www.alone.ie/Christmas/. Cards for older people linked in with ALONE cost €5, with 64% of the cost donated to ALONE. Packs of company cards are priced at €250 for 100 personalised Christmas cards, including postage and a €120 donation to ALONE, and €1250 for 500 personalised Christmas cards, including postage and a €650 donation to ALONE. Companies will receive their stock of cards within three working days, delivered by An Post – See www.alone.ie/Christmas/.
ENDS
About ALONE
2017 marks 40 years since ALONE was founded. Since then the charity has supported thousands of older people to age at home. ALONE works with those who have issues with loneliness and social isolation, lack of services, poor health, poverty, homelessness or housing. ALONE provides Support Coordination, Housing with Support, Befriending and Campaigning services to over 1,000 older people nationwide every week. ALONE’s services are quality approved and are delivered 365 days a year.
For more information contact:
Maree Rigney, Limelight Communications, maree.rigney@limelight.ie, 01 668 0600, 086 3587153
Kathryn Byrne, Limelight Communications, kathryn.byrne@limelight.ie, 01 668 0600, 085 233 6033