By Cian Molloy - 13 April, 2020
This year’s Trócaire Box
Hold on to your Trócaire Lenten Boxes, for now, says the charity’s chief executive Caoimhe de Barra.
The Lenten Boxes provide Trócaire with its biggest source of income directly from the public – last year, the Lenten campaign raised €7.6m, while its Christmas appeal raised €2.3m.
However, now the charity faces a logistics challenge in how to gather the funds collected in Lenten Boxes when schools, and parish offices, are closed.
“Until it is safe, until further instructions, please hold onto your Lent Box. Keeping it safe will help keep you safe too,” says Trócaire’s chief executive Caoimhe de Barra.
In the meantime, those who are in a position to do so are being asked to make an online donation to help Trócaire reduce the impact of the new coronavirus outbreak on people in the Third World.
Online donations can be made here. Suggested donation amounts range from €50 to €100, to €250, with de Barra pointing out that when the charity receives electronic donations of €250 or more it is also able to claim ‘tax back’ from the Irish government to add to that amount.
The Trócaire CEO added: “If you’re not able to give now, know this: if all of us do what’s right, the day will come when Trócaire centres can reopen, when parishes and schools can swing wide their doors, when your Lent Box can have its day.
“For today, as you hold fast to love and justice, please: hold onto your Lent Box until we let you know otherwise.”
In addition to monies raised through fundraising activities, Trócaire also receives income from national governments for its overseas development projects. In the financial year 2018-19, it received €21.5m from Irish Aid, €3.1m from the UK’s Department of International Development and €1.8m from the Swedish International Development Agency.
