St Francis NS raises over €4,500 for Dundalk Simon Community

Pupils from the two 4th classes at St Francis NS Blackrock held their annual sponsored ‘Sleep Out’ at the end of September, in aid of the Dundalk Simon Community, raising over €4,500 which they presented to the charity today. Since launching the Sleepout Fundraiser five years ago the 4th class pupils of St Francis NS have raised a total of over €30,000 for the Dundalk Simon Community

Having studied the topic of homelessness, and from an informative visit from Yvonne from Dundalk Simon Community, the children learned about the different types of homelessness, its impact and how it is a huge problem across Ireland and in our own community. The children particularly focused on the person behind the homeless person and how it could happen to any one of us.

They learned about the support available and the wonderful and life-changing work charity organisations such as The Dundalk Simon Community provide and how we can support them.

The children did themselves and their school proud by challenging themselves to experience what it is like to sleep rough in order to raise awareness on the topic of homelessness and to raise vital funds for Dundalk Simon Community. Before settling down outside for the night, the children investigated where would be the best place to sleep, the most suitable and accessible materials to create shelters from and how to optimise these materials in order to keep them as warm, dry and comfortable as possible.

Speaking after the event,class teacher Sarah Cooney said, "This is our 6th year of organising the sponsored sleepout and it is always a fun and positive learning experience that the pupils take on with reverence and an understanding of all we have to be thankful for. We are aware that we, as a society, cannot ignore the problem of homelessness. We acknowledge how our contribution, however small, can help make change for the better."

In total, 54 children took part and those unable to attend the sleepout at the school participated from home instead, by giving up their comfortable bed and sleeping on the floor. They were supervised by the class teachers, Sarah Cooney and Treasa McKiernan and the school principal, Oreena Lawless.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of Dundalk Simon Community, Yvonne Carr commented, “We are so very grateful to the staff and teachers of St Francis NS for their ongoing support and for choosing the Dundalk Simon Community as the beneficiary of their sleepout in aid of homelessness. It is inspiring to see children as young as 9 and 10 years of age taking on such a noble cause and facing the challenge with such enthusiasm and maturity.”

Treasa McKiernan went on to thank Yvonne from The Dundalk Simon Community for coming in to speak with the children.

"The information Yvonne presented and her sharing of experiences added reality and greater depth to our study on Homelessness."

She also wished to acknowledge the support of the Dundalk Lions Club, along with the parents and the and the Board of Management of St Francis NS for supporting the fundraiser and allowing them to use the school premises and facilities for the event and to Ferdia O’Byrne of SuperValu Fairways and Shelia Loughran who provided cardboard for the children to build sleeping shelters.

Finally, she said “A special thank to School Principal, Oreena Lawless, for giving of her time to join us at the overnight sleepout”.