Homeless charity 'blown away' as 7,500 shoeboxes of goods donated to help 'Fill A Tram'

A charity collecting show boxes filled with goods for homeless people has been "blown away by the fantastic support" their appeal has received.

Inner City Helping the Homeless called on the public to make their donations at Connolly Station as part of their Fill A Tram initiative.

By the time the collection closed at the inner city donation point at 7pm, over 7,500 shoeboxes has been counted.

"Thank you so so much," the charity said following the incredibly successful collection. 

Meanwhile, the Capuchin Centre in Dublin is appealing for baby food and nappies to be donated for homeless children this Christmas. 

The charity regularly doles out food and supply packs to homeless and disadvantaged people every day.

Alan Bailey, volunteer co-ordinator at the centre, told Independent.ie that in the past year they have noticed an uptake in the number of parents looking for nappies, baby food and baby clothes.

“It’s something that has raised its head in the last year, a lot of families are staying in hotels. Every Monday at lunchtime is our official distribution date and we distribute baby food and nappies to around 90 families,” he said.

“Isn’t it a savage indictment in this day and age to think that there are families queuing for nappies…It’s a frightening thought.”

The charity is also distributing 800 hot meals a day from its centre in Dublin 7.

They will also hand out between 3,000 and 3,500 hampers to people, an increase on last year’s 2,800 hampers.

The latest figures show that a record number of 6,709 people are now homeless across the country.

In Dublin the number of homeless families has climbed over 1,000 for the first time and there are more than 2,000 children living in emergency or temporary accommodation.

Anyone wishing to donate baby food and nappies can do so at the Capuchin Day Centre, 29 Bow Street, Dublin 7.