Family Appeal

The Family Appeal at Christmas has grown rapidly over the years with the support from a range of partners including Tesco, Bridge Commercials and many more.  Last year The Salvation Army Family Appeal, along with other donors, helped over 2000 families (more than 5000 children) across the province.

The Family Appeal mainly relies on the general public to ‘Be A Star’ and donate gifts, as well as volunteers who work at Salvation Army churches on arranged days. New, unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at all Salvation Army churches and centres across Northern Ireland, as well as the following Tesco stores until December 16:

• Tesco Ballymena - BT42 3HB
• Tesco Ballymoney - BT53 7JT
• Tesco Belfast - Newtownbreda Road, BT8 6PZ
• Tesco Newtownabbey – Abbey Retail Park, BT36 7GU
• Tesco Carrickfergus - BT38 8AU
• Tesco Castlereagh - BT5 5FT
• Tesco Coleraine - BT52 1HU
• Tesco Limavady - BT49 0ET
• Tesco Newtownards - BT23 8NN

Members of the public and businesses are also encouraged to make a donation online through the JustGiving page. Whether you wish to donate towards craft items, books, family board games or gifts for teenagers, all donations are gratefully received.

Applications for support are primarily made to The Salvation Army through social workers, health visitors, school teachers and other professionals. Then the process begins, enabling The Salvation Army to provide help where needed.

We’re teaming up again with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland to take parents and children on a magical train journey to visit Santa at his weekend grotto at Whitehead.  Along with the support from the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, Translink are transporting 100 of our Family Centre residents from Grand Central Station to the grotto at Whitehead where they will enjoy a 10 minute journey in Victorian style while being pulled by a steam engine. 

The families will meet many ‘fun’ characters in this specially adapted area and also have the opportunity to write their own personal letter to Santa.

Refreshments will be offered, and each family unit will have the opportunity to take that ‘special reminder photograph’ of their child with Mr & Mrs C.