This year’s Shine A Light Night is calling on people all over Cork and nationwide to sleep out for one night and raise funds to help Focus Ireland’s vital services, as the number of homeless adults in Cork stands at 372.
On the night of October 16th, as well as asking business leaders to sleep out again on Cork’s historic Spike Island to help the cause, Focus Ireland want individuals to sign up and sleep out in their gardens or homes to help raise crucial funds.
Companies can also sign up to support the initiative by pledging to fundraise and sleep out at their workplace.
Safety is paramount and in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Focus Ireland is working to ensure the safety of all participants and staff.
The charity is prepared to host a fully virtual Shine a Light Night should government guidelines suggest doing so.
Focus Ireland, continuing its partnership with Bord Gáis Energy, are aiming to raise €1.3 million in 2020 to support people experiencing homelessness in Cork and across the country.
‘VITAL FUNDS’
Speaking at the event launch, Ger Spillane, head of Focus Ireland services for the Mid and South West region said: “Focus Ireland works tirelessly with people in Cork experiencing homelessness to help them secure their home or to ensure they leave homelessness for good.
“We also work extensively across the area of prevention to make sure many other families and individuals never become homeless in the first place.
“In the coming months ahead, the support of organisations such as Bord Gáis Energy is crucial to make a success of fundraising events like Shine A Light Night which will raise vital funds for our services across the country.”
To date, Shine A Light Night has raised over €5.3m for people experiencing homelessness in Ireland.
In 2019, this support enabled Focus Ireland to help over 14,200 people.
To register to participate in Shine A Light Night 2020 visit www.focusireland.ie/shinealight
