Team to collect 500 bags of winter woollies in 10 days

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has once again partnered with the Dublin Simon Community, assisting them with their festive winter woolly bag-run campaign. Approximately 20 Enterprise employees have volunteered to travel to companies and organisations around Dublin over a 10-day period to collect bags of donated winter clothing and food hampers. The Enterprise team, with its dedicated van, aims to transport around 50 bags per day to the Dublin Simon shops on Thomas Street and Camden Street in the coming days.

Enterprise is one of many companies that will be donating both previously worn and brand new clothing including hats, gloves, scarves, socks and thermals, towards filling packs for the Dublin Simon Community Rough Sleeper team to distribute. Other items will be used to stock the Simon shops.

The donations Dublin Simon shops receive are extremely important as they provide clothing and other items to people accessing their services, including individuals who are sleeping rough or accessing their emergency, supported housing or treatment services.

Dublin Simon also distributes donated items to people staying in its emergency accommodation. Donated items are also utilised by service users who are preparing for interviews and work placements, with some eventually going to those moving into a home of their own. Any remaining items are sold in the shops to raise vital funds.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which is part of the world’s largest car rental company, has been working with the charity since 2013, providing manpower and vehicles for a range of activities. This is the third year the company has taken on the responsibility of delivering the donated items.

“We are delighted to once again support the services of the Dublin Simon Community, which does excellent work helping those who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness in Dublin,” said Thomas Curran, Project Co-ordinator and Strategic Account Manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland.
“This is Enterprise’s third year participating in the bag run and there was huge support and enthusiasm once again from all our staff. Many of us are even planning on returning to the Dublin Simon Community shops in January to assist with the sorting and organising of the bags,” Curran said.

Brian Ingarfield of the Dublin Simon Community stated: “Dublin Simon Community have been working with Enterprise Rent-A-Car since 2013 on a variety of different projects. This Christmas marks the third year that we’ve had the support of their transport services, which allows us to deliver much needed winter clothing and Christmas presents for our clients and residents over this busy period. By volunteering their time and resources, the team at Enterprise-Rent-A-Car will help us distribute warm clothing, food hampers and other items to families and individuals we work with.
The generous contributions made by the public and business community will make a real difference to people and families experiencing homelessness this Christmas, and the help of Enterprise-Rent-A-Car means we can get these donations to people who need them most, faster.”

Caption: Thomas Curran of Enterprise Rent-A-Car helps to unload another van of parcels with Michelle Connolly of Simon Community at the charity’s Camden Street Shop.