The Simon Community has raised more than £100,000 during the past month with its House of Cards appeal. The appeal encouraged companies to make donations to the charity in lieu of sending Christmas cards.
Ms Caroline O'Connell, fund-raising officer with Simon, said the charity had expected to raise about £20,000. One donor gave £50,000 after reading of the appeal in The Irish Times, she said. Thanking all who had taken part, Ms O'Connell said Simon would definitely run the campaign again next year.
A report in yesterday's Irish Times about Ms Sarah Kelly (29), who was begging in Dublin to raise the £40 train fare to take herself and her two children home to Co Donegal, also generated a sympathetic response. A number of people telephoned the newspaper, including one man who said he was sending a cheque for £100 to be passed on to her, or to a charity for the homeless. Ms Kelly could not be contacted yesterday.