What must be the most unusual shop to open in Dublin or indeed anywhere in the country will open from tomorrow (Thursday) until Sunday 20th.
It is the Empty Toy Shop at 51 Henry Street in Dublin.
The pop-up shop is the brainchild of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) and its creative agency Huskies.
It is part of the SVP Annual Appeal campaign to encourage people to donate in a different way this year.
The Empty Toy Shop will only sell empty toy boxes in return for a donation of €5 or more.
The shop will open from 11am-6pm from Thursday the 17th of December until Sunday the 20th.
It will be staffed by SVP volunteers and staff.
Rose McGowan, SVP National President said: “Due to covid-19 safety concerns, physical visits to people’s homes are not happening this Christmas. This means that the ability of the Society to deliver toys and food is limited. So, in addition to financial donations, we are appealing for vouchers which can be exchanged for gifts of all kinds: toys, books, music, clothing etc.”
The funds raised at the Empty Toy Shop will be ring-fenced to provide vouchers for toys in the lead up to Christmas and into the new year.
Those who cannot get to visit the Empty Toy Shop in Henry Street the can buy an empty toy box from their local SVP Vincent’s shop.
The SVP Empty Toy Boxes are sponsored by Smurfit Kappa.