Team of young people create Christmas gift donation station
published on 12 Dec 2022
Team of young volunteers support local charity with sorting and wrapping of Christmas presents in Bootle
A team of young people have given up their time and rolled up their sleeves to support The Salvation Army with its annual Christmas Present Appeal.
The nine young adults, aged 18 to 25, that are all enrolled on the Prince’s Trust teen programme, came armed with present donations and sacks of energy to help The Salvation Army in Bootle roll out its Christmas Present Appeal to the vulnerable members of the Merseyside community.
Launched at the end of November, the appeal calls on the community to add an extra gift to their shopping list, donating new and unwrapped toys that will support families in need over the festive season as more families are being pushed into poverty amid the cost of living crisis.
The support from the members of the Prince’s Trust, who are enrolled on a personal development programme qualification with Bootle Fire Station, ensured that a sorting, wrapping and packing area was set up in order for the church and charity to meet the need of the local community, which Captain Annette Booth, church leader of The Salvation Army in Bootle saying this year’s need is greater than ever. She said: “Every year, for many years, we have served the families of Bootle and South Sefton that are most in need by providing toys to those that otherwise wouldn’t be able to give their children something to open on Christmas Day; and every year we see that need grow.
“This year, we have already received an unprecedented number of referrals and we expect that demand to continue to increase as Christmas Day gets closer. The help that the young volunteers from the Prince’s Trust will give to us, donating their time and energy, will ensure that we have a smooth process and that every referral package is age appropriate and created with love.”
To support the Christmas Present Appeal gifts should be dropped off at The Salvation Army in Bootle or at NatWest bank, both located on Stanley Road, by Friday, December 16. Gifts should be appropriate for children and young people, aged 0 to 16 years old. The Salvation Army will then sort and distribute the gifts to children and families in the area through its own networks, health visitors, schools and social services.
For more information on The Salvation Army in Bootle please visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/bootle.
