Christmas is a costly time, so any chance to save a few euro is very welcome. When one small act helps sick children then it’s all the more special.

Delivering Christmas wishes this year can be a double good deed thanks to DPD Ireland in Letterkenny.

The couriers are now delivering Jack & Jill’s Christmas cards locally for free. Plus, the centre is serving as a drop-off point for unwanted Lego, which Jack & Jill sells to raise funds for home nursing care hours.

The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation has supported 49 children in Donegal and 2,000 nationwide with home nursing care,

The charity is now taking orders for Christmas cards which are delivered free by DPD Ireland’s 38 depots nationwide, including the one locally in Letterkenny. The cards cost €6 per box of 12 and €9 for those wishing to add a personal message and photo and these Christmas cards are also available through the 150 Topaz Re.Stores nationwide.

Got any Lego?

Anyone with unwanted Lego bricks are invited to leave them with DPD Letterkenny.

As families begin their toy audits to clear out the old and make room for the new toys from Santa, Jack & Jill is appealing to people to make cash or Lego donations to the charity which can be turned into home nursing hours for sick children locally and nationally.

Commenting on this partnership with DPD Ireland, Jonathan Irwin CEO and Founder of Jack & Jill said:

“Christmas cards are our bread and butter of fundraising at Christmas time, as well as cash donations and we want to remind people that every 16 euro raised funds 1 hour of home nursing care for a sick child.  

“We’re expecting an avalanche of Lego bricks through our DPD Ireland network in the run up to Christmas.

“It has been another tough year in terms of fundraising for Irish charities and we rely now more than ever on the continued generosity of our supporters.”

The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation has to raise €3 million every year to fund its unique home nursing care and respite service which is provided to sick children, from birth to 4 years of age, around the country. Typically, these are sick children who suffer from severe development delay as a result of brain damage, who may not be able to walk or talk, are tube fed, oxygen dependent and in need of around the clock care.  

The Jack & Jill service operates 365 days a year, has no waiting list and mobilises an army of 1,000 nurses and carers around the country and has done so for nearly 20 years.  

With less than 20% of its budget coming from the HSE, the charity relies on fundraisers like Christmas cards and the Lego Appeal to keep going.