Yellow, is it SHARE you're looking for?
Nothing signals Christmas in Cork like the sight of almost 2,000 students donning the familiar yellow SHARE jackets in support of the elderly.
On the evening of 13 December, the iconic SHARE (Students Harness Aid for the Relief of the Elderly) crib lights will be blessed and switched on marking the start of the campaign.
The occasion will be heralded by the Band 1 Brigade, marking the beginning of a daily collection that will continue until Christmas Eve, a tradition that has been a cornerstone of Christmas in Cork for over 50 years.
A number of students will also take part in the annual SHARE 24-hour fast, as they man the crib daily in the run-up to Christmas. Students will collect right up until Christmas Eve, raising much-needed funds for a charity that has looked after the elderly in the region for half a century.
Speaking ahead of the campaign, Zac O'Sullivan, Chair of the 2024 Student Executive, paid tribute to the students that started it all.
“55 years ago, a group of students set out to spread a message,” he said.
“They recognised the injustice of the plight of the elderly and set out to do something to change this. They started the first collection and the first fast.
“From there, SHARE was born. The organisation has grown from strength to strength. This year, we ask the people of Cork to show you care for the elderly in Cork, and support the important work SHARE does,” added Mr O’Sullivan.
This year, for people who don’t have cash to hand, there are tap and QR code options to donate to the annual fundraiser. It’s also possible to donate on the SHARE website ShareCork.org.
Since its foundation in 1970, SHARE has provided a unique link between students and the elderly. It has created a blueprint for positive engagement between students and the elderly community, which has spread nationally and internationally.
SHARE has tackled the housing crisis for the vulnerable elderly people of Cork city. Evolving over the last 50 years, the organisation, led by students, runs 140 homes in the area, across seven different locations. Students visit these homes on a weekly basis, offering much sought-after social engagement. In addition to this, the Brother Jerome Day Care Centre caters for up to 125 clients each week, offering a social environment, hot meals, fun, and activities.
SHARE also provides medical and social support through its day centre on a daily basis, and in recent years has piloted a dementia outreach programme to support those living with dementia and those who care for them.