Dublin Samaritans are Positively Bloom-ing
Dublin Samaritans are excited to announce that they will be taking part in Bord Bia Bloom 2022 as part of the Community Postcard Gardens. Bord Bia Bloom 2022 will take place in Phoenix Park from June 2nd to June 6th 2022.
Dublin Samaritans’ Postcard Garden will represent a sense of community and raise awareness for the Dublin Samaritans 24 hour freephone helpline along with highlighting their new fund-raising initiative ‘The Friends of Dublin Samaritans Forest of Hope’.
Chairperson of the Dublin Samaritans Awareness Team, Olwyn Greene commented:
“Everyone here at Dublin Samaritans is so excited to be part of the gardens at Bloom this year. This space will be a tranquil calm space for people to visit and shed light on the importance of the services provided by Dublin Samaritans. The trees symbolise hope and the phonebox symbolises the listen to ear that is always available through our helpline. We can’t wait to see the garden come together and for you to come and visit.”
The Postcard Garden at Board Bia Bloom will feature a beautifully handcrafted Irish phonebox that encapsulates the safe space and confidentially that Dublin Samaritans provide to every caller. The phone within the phonebox represents an open line of communication provided by the helpline. Visitors to the display will also be able to experience a scaled-down ‘Forest of Hope’, the garden will include native Irish trees planted throughout the space.
The phonebox was inspired by a gentleman in Japan who after a Tsunami struck built a phonebox on top of a hill where people could go and talk to loved ones lost to the tragedy. The phone was not connected to anything it was a symbol of a safe space for people to express their thought, feelings and worries much like the ethos of Dublin Samaritans.
Members of the public can support Dublin Samaritans’ 24/7 helpline by purchasing a native tree from The Friends of Dublin Samaritans Forest of Hope. Dublin Samaritans along with Coillte and the Tree Council of Ireland will plant native trees for each new member. Money raised allows Samaritans to continue offering emotional support to anyone experiencing grief, distress or at risk of suicide 24/7 365 days of the year. It allows Dublin Samaritans to continue training more volunteers, who in turn provide outreach programmes to people. For more information see www.dublinsamaritans.ie
