Barclays Bank helps The Salvation Army spread some Christmas joy

Salvation Army churches in Basildon, Colchester and Harlow were given a helping hand to support struggling families after Barclays Bank branches donated toys to their Christmas Present Appeals.

After appealing to customers to support The Salvation Army’s Christmas Present Appeals in the county, Barclays staff delivered 460 toys to the churches whose leaders and volunteers distributed to them to families which children who would otherwise go without during the festive period.

The Salvation Army has a long history of supporting vulnerable individuals and families, especially at Christmas and, by working together with Barclays, leaders are aiming to reach even more people this year.

Major Timothy Justice leads The Salvation Army in Basildon and said he is incredibly grateful for Barclays’ support. He received 120 gifts to pass on to children in families who have been referred by different agencies.

He said: “The Christmas Present Appeal is a lifeline for many families, and with Barclays’ assistance, we hope to make this Christmas a little brighter for those who need it most. We gave out toys to around 120 children meaning each child had two or three gifts.

“The donation from Barclays has made a massive difference. The agencies who have collected toys so far to distribute to local families have been really grateful. A huge thank you to Barclays staff.”

Major Luis Viriato leads the church and charity in Colchester with Major Filipa Viriato and has received requests from local schools, social workers, a women’s refuge and smaller agencies.

Luis said: “We have found this year to be a little more challenging than previous years in meeting the needs of families in our local community, as most people have found this year to be more difficult financially, so your gifts have been truly welcome in helping us to meet those needs.

Lorraine Evans is centre coordinator at The Salvation Army in Harlow and said she was very grateful for Barclays support.

She said: “We received a lovely donation.  Barclays staff brought a great selection of soft toys, Lego, dolls, games and books for all ages and were really interested in the work we do to support families.

“Last year we supported over 300 children with gifts through our Christmas Present Appeal and with a similar expectation for this year we were extremely thankful for Barclays support.”

Folake Johnson, Barclays Customer Care Director for Essex said: “We are very pleased to support The Salvation Army Christmas present appeal and thank our customers and staff across Essex for their generosity and drive to make the collection happen.”