Help for families from The Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal

The Salvation Army is calling on communities throughout Britain to donate new toys to its Christmas Present Appeal to support families who will struggle to make ends meet over the festive season.  

Every year Salvation Army churches ask people to donate new toys and gifts for children whose families cannot put food on the table, heat their homes or pay their bills.  

People can also donate through The Entertainer’s Big Toy appeal. Customers can buy an extra toy to donate when they visit a store or shop online at TheToyShop.com. For each toy donated, The Entertainer will also add a toy, doubling the number for children who might go without. Each Entertainer store is connected with a local Salvation Army church or centre who will collect and distribute the toys as part of the wider Christmas Present Appeal.  

Last year, The Salvation Army distributed more than 84,000 gifts and the church and charity fears more people will need support this year. 

Liz Hall, deputy director of Family Ministries at The Salvation Army said: “Every day Salvation Army officers and volunteers work with families who are really struggling. Christmas is a time when this is brought into sharp focus as the cost of living crisis continues to have a devastating impact on families who can’t afford to heat their homes or put a nutritious meal on the table.  

“Helping parents provide a gift for their child is more than just financial support, it simply takes the pressure off them at Christmas. All year our officers have seen the devastating effect of the cost of living crisis on families who we help at our food and baby banks, community drop-ins, and our debt advice and employment services.  

 “The Salvation Army’s present appeal is an opportunity for people in our communities to embrace the spirit of Christmas and give to families and individuals who have very little. We are incredibly grateful for the public’s generosity over the years and hope this year our appeal will be able to bring some respite to those who are struggling the most.”  

Paige, a 32-year-old single mum of two children aged 10 and two from Portsmouth, regularly attends a baby group at Portsmouth Salvation Army. She was unable to work due to illness and received gifts for her children through The Salvation Army’s present appeal in 2023. She said: 

“Last Christmas was a real struggle with the cost of things like nappies and fresh fruit and vegetables going up and up. I even apologised to my son for not being able to give him a Christmas like the ones we’d had before. The rising cost of living was overwhelming, so I bit the bullet and asked The Salvation Army for help. It meant everything to know I had someone to turn to, and their help turned our Christmas around from being a worrying time into something we were able to enjoy as a family.  

“I am currently still unable to work but now volunteer at The Salvation Army. I am hoping we won’t need help this Christmas, but I know The Salvation Army is there if I do. I will always be grateful to the people in our community who donated gifts to families like mine when we were really struggling, and to The Salvation Army for all their support throughout the year.” 

 To find out if your nearest Salvation Army is taking part in this year’s present appeal visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/christmas-present-appeal