The Society of St. Vincent De Paul (SVP) will be launching the Christmas Giving Tree Appeal at 2pm this Friday at the Merchant Quay Shopping Centre in Cork.
While welcoming advances made in the Budget, the Society in Cork is concerned that Ireland remains a two-tier nation where there is clearly a rich sector that is far removed from what the SVP deals with.
This is the seventh year of the appeal during which shoppers are invited to buy an extra gift to put at The Giving Tree.
The Society guarantees that the gift will then be delivered to a family in need of help and assistance, in time for Christmas.
The SVP is the biggest charitable organisation in the country. This year it is spending €2.5m on alleviating social problems in Cork city and county, tackling deprivation that is still present despite the Celtic Tiger.
The appeal is being run in conjunction with international retailer Marks & Spencer.