Christmas is a time for family, for cosiness and for togetherness at home. This Christmas, with hospitals under increased pressure, it is more important than ever for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation to keep the 402 children it supports with highly complex medical conditions at home with their family, warm and cosy and well cared for in their community.
This long-established, Irish children’s charity that was set up by parents for parents nearly 25 years ago, is urging the public to continue to #SupportLocal families by purchasing from its Christmas Collection or by donating direct to the charity at www.jackandjill.ie. The money raised funds Jack & Jill’s in-home nursing care and respite for children up to the age of six with severe to profound neurodevelopmental delay, including children with brain injury, genetic diagnosis, cerebral palsy and undiagnosed conditions. Another key part of Jack & Jill’s service is end of life care for children under the age of six, regardless of the diagnosis.
For Jack & Jill mum, Deborah Greene, who lives in Lucan in Dublin with her family, Christmas is a very special, but tough time:
“Our gorgeous little Amelia, who is five, has had so many challenges over her short life. Since she was two and a half, Amelia started having epileptic seizures – up to 30 a day – and the consensus from her medical team was that our beautiful little girl had a global developmental delay, with no specific diagnosis. A recent MRI showed brain shrinkage and we are awaiting further tests. Amelia is nonverbal and cannot walk or sit, requiring 24/7 care. We have been on an emotional rollercoaster as without a diagnosis, there is no clear prognosis for Amelia.”
Amelia, Deborah, brother Calvin (10 years) and Dad, Wayne are supported by Jack & Jill, who help the family by giving Deborah and Wayne time to spend with Calvin, and to do other ‘regular’ things the rest of us take for granted.
Deborah continued,
“Having someone to call on in Jack & Jill, who understands and gives expert advice and guidance, is amazing. This Christmas, we would love it if people could donate to and support Jack & Jill so that they can go on helping other families like ours.”
According to Carmel Doyle, CEO of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation,
“This has been another very challenging year for our families, our nurses, our volunteers, our shop managers and our fundraisers at Jack & Jill. We have more families than ever, relying on us for support, with 402 children under our care, right across the country. With another €500,000 to raise in one last fundraising push to the end of the year, we are relying on the public for their continued support. Every donation and every purchase from our Christmas collection translates into home nursing care hours and a real gift of time for local children and their families.”
The Jack & Jill Home for Christmas Gift Collection includes ‘Find a Diamond’ candles from renowned Irish fashion and interiors designers Paul & William Costelloe, exclusively created for Jack & Jill. There are two fragrances to choose from – Pink Grapefruit & Champagne or ‘Recharge’ which is a fusion of Neroli and Clementine, with notes of Bergamot, Orange and Mandarin. Each candle, produced by Celtic Candles, comes exquisitely presented with a special yuletide treasure of an elegant costume jewellery pendant featuring a silver disc and diamond inset, designed by Betty & Biddy. And for one lucky person, a golden ticket moment will lead to a 14-karat gold diamond pendant, handmade and kindly donated by Irish jewellery designer Chupi for Jack & Jill, valued at over €650. At €27.50 for one candle and €50 for two, this is literally the gift that keeps on giving!
For those who missed out on getting coveted pieces of art during the much-celebrated Incognito online art sale for Jack & Jill earlier this year from the likes of Una Sealy RHA, Adrian + Shane, Martin Gale, Sylvia Parkinson-Brown or Martin Mooney; they can now gift themselves or a loved one with a limited-edition signed Incognito print. Priced at €50 per print, the Christmas collection features 38 artists to choose from.
Scratching your head, wondering what to get for your child’s teacher, the lollipop lady or your childminder for Christmas? Fear not, we can help you swap the bath salts, ‘Best Teacher’ mugs and novelty Christmas socks for something much more meaningful – a Jack & Jill Gift Certificate which says, “It takes a big heart to take care of young minds” and that a special donation has been made in the recipient’s name to Jack & Jill, ensuring that sick children will be cared for in the comfort and heart of their home and community. Starting at €18, it’ll be a gold star for gift giving at school this Christmas!
There is something warm and magical about sending and receiving Christmas cards to loved ones at home, and abroad. It shows you care. And sending a Jack & Jill Christmas card, shows you care even more! Jack & Jill’s Christmas card collection comes in six festive designs and is priced at €6 per pack of 12.
Jack & Jill’s mission is to empower parents to care for their child at home, because there is no care like home care for a Jack & Jill child, especially at Christmas time. Each €18 donation funds one hour of home nursing care and is a real ‘Gift of Time’ to the 402 families supported by Jack & Jill, right around the country. It gives them time to do the normal things like Christmas shopping, catching up with a friend, enjoying a walk with the other siblings, or simply having a nap to recharge – safe in the knowledge that their sick child is well cared for at home.
Starting at €18, donate now and gift a friend, family member, neighbour or colleague with a special Jack & Jill ‘Gift of Time’ card featuring art from the 2021 Incognito Art Collection – a precious gift of one, two, three or eight hours of home nursing care that will keep Jack & Jill children #HomeforChristmas.
Always in a panic on Christmas Eve, trying to find nice wrapping paper and gift tags? Jack & Jill has you covered, with a Deluxe Christmas Wrapping Paper Set featuring three beautiful designs. Priced at €6 per pack of 12 sheets, display your gifts with pride under the tree at home this Christmas.
Jack & Jill LEGO stocking filler – for kids big and small, you can never go wrong with a gift of a kilo of pre-loved LEGO! A sustainable choice for eco-conscious gift givers; you can ensure you’ll always build a brighter future with this kids’ forever favourite. Priced at €10 for a kilo bag direct from any of the nine Jack & Jill boutiques nationwide.
Families, preschools, schools and businesses across the country can also donate their pre-loved LEGO to Jack & Jill, making room for more toys! Every €18 raised through our Jack & Jill Christmas LEGO Drive will gift one hour of home nursing care. So, dig out those LEGO bricks and help us to provide much-needed nursing care for more families across Ireland.
The Jack & Jill Home for Christmas Gift Collection can be found at jackandillstore.ie where gifts can be ordered and delivered straight to your door. Gifts can also be purchased at any of Jack & Jill’s nine boutiques in Arklow, Crookstown, Gorey, Kilkenny, Loughrea, Newbridge, Portlaoise, Tullamore and Wicklow. And donations are always welcome too, via www.jackandjill.ie or by calling Jack & Jill directly on 045 894538.
Follow on social media at Instagram @jackandjillcf; Twitter @jackandjillcf; Facebook @jackandjillfoundation; and LinkedIn @Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation and use #HomeforChristmas
For further information, please contact us at [email protected].
