Apple’s volunteers wrap 1,000 presents for Cork charity 

The Rainbow Club, which supports children and young people who have autism, has thanked their ‘Apple elves’ for their support this Christmas and all year.

In the lead-up to Christmas, Apple volunteers are collaborating with the Rainbow Club to create an inclusive Santa experience, an event that provides families with a compassionate, sensory-friendly visit that eliminates the typical holiday stress and rush.

The Apple volunteers have been working tirelessly to meticulously wrap 1,000 presents.

The Rainbow Club, which is based in Mahon, serves as a hub for the autism community.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be able to say publicly how much Apple support us,” Karen O’Mahony, the CEO and founder of the Rainbow Club, told The Echo.

“We like to always acknowledge people who help us, so I’m delighted that Apple have agreed to allow the team to put this out there.

“They’re what we call our ‘Apple elves’. They come on board every year and wrap all our presents; we sent them up to their team and they wrap, label, and send them back to us very quickly.

“It saves us a huge amount of time. Our Santa experience runs from the start of December, so our volunteers are really tight for time, but Apple also send some employees down to help wrap shoeboxes, which have been donated to us.”

Their relationship extends far beyond the Christmas events.

“Their support is ongoing throughout the year,” Ms O’Mahony said. “They help with other initiatives, like setting up for our masquerade ball, and they support us financially, as well.”

Ms O’Mahony has also been invited up to Apple to give talks to their employees and teach them more about the Rainbow Club’s work.

“Small charities like ours are competing with a lot of bigger organisations — there’s so many good causes out there — but to have the support of a big company like Apple is huge,” she said.

“Since covid, it’s been harder to recruit volunteers, so having corporate relationships is very important for us to keep going: Not just financially, but physically.

“For the families we help, it’s wonderful to see Apple out there supporting us in the background; it really does lift spirits.”

Through a multi-year partnership, Apple’s support has enabled the Rainbow Club to expand its life-skills and mentorship programmes, directly benefiting more than 100 individuals.

This collaboration, which is part of Apple’s Strengthen Local Communities (SLC) programme, has supported a range of initiatives and provided funding and volunteer support for the club’s mission to create a welcoming and resource-rich environment for families navigating the challenges of autism.

“At Apple, we’re deeply committed to being a part of the communities where our teams live in and work, and we are proud to support so many wonderful and impactful organisations here in Cork,” Cathy Kearney, VP European operations, Apple said.

“Our partnership with the Rainbow Club over the years shows how volunteers can come together to make a meaningful difference, and we’re especially thrilled to help create a special experience for children and families ahead of Christmas.”

Apple’s SLC programme enables employees to nominate causes close to their hearts, and provide grants and resources to organisations that align with Apple’s core values of accessibility, education, inclusion, and equity.

In Ireland, seven organisations will receive SLC grants this year.