Ballybofey’s Eunan Devenney has made his annual Christmas toy appeal a family affair.
The former professional boxer first ran a toy appeal for disadvantaged kids in the year 2000, after a conversation with his sister Sharon, who was a social worker and told Eunan of a group of three young children she was working with who had no presents for Christmas.
“I went out and bought toys for the children… and from that time on I never stopped,” Eunan told Donegal Daily.
“The next year it was two families, three or four families the year after that…. it was even more as the years went by. The highest (amount of children who received toys) was 100.”
According to Eunan, “it’s down to the people and their unbelieveable generosity here in Donegal and beyond.”
Now after a few years of a break since his last appeal, Eunan has decided to involve his three sons in this year’s fundraising effort.
“My three boys are a great help. Niall, Cathair and Sean have helped me from when they were able to walk, deciding which age would like this toy or that toy, and when people give me vouchers the boys come with me and list off this age or that age.”
“Sean would have the calculator out counting up how much we have left to buy.”
He says the boys also are a great help in distributing the gifts to social workers and groups around the county.
“They (would) all take the day off work or school at one time (and we would) take all of the toys and gifts to social workers.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone over the years for their beautiful generosity for all of the children who got something at Christmas.”
Eunan asks that when you’re out doing your Christmas shopping in the coming weeks to keep his appeal in mind.
You can contact him if you have any donations to be collected on 087 768 4073.
