Midlands Polish group delivers 200 gift boxes in 'Little Santa' event

The Midlands Polish Community has delivered 200 boxes full of sweets and Christmas crackers for local children in need as part of its 'Little Santa' event.

There is a custom in Poland and some other European countries that, on December 6, little gifts are put under children’s pillows or into their shoes or stockings. This is known as 'Little Santa', or Mee-Ko-Why-Kee in Polish.

Taking from this beautiful tradition, and to start celebrating the Christmas spirit of charity and compassion, the Midlands Polish Community association this month prepared and donated small gifts for families and children who need them most in our communities.

Thanks to support from the Polish Embassy in Dublin, and from local businesses and shops, 200 boxes full of sweets and Christmas crackers were made by the Midlands Polish Community group's vice chair, Wojtek, and his helpful elves, wife Anna and daughter Zosia.

One hundred of the boxes were donated to Midlands Simon Community; 20 went to Esker House Women's Refuge in Athlone; another 30 went to St Teresa’s Special School, Ballinasloe; and 50 were donated to Longford Women’s Link.

The group said it had received great support from the Polish Embassy in Dublin as part of global #polonia4neighbours initiative.

Private sponsors also joined in, and the group wished to thank them for their support. Polish and Irish grocery shops, and other businesses, kindly donated sweets and Christmas cards which were put inside the boxes.

The aim of this initiative was to start celebrating the Christmas spirit of charity and compassion, and to put smiles on children's faces.