With the Christmas countdown officially on, Mission Christmas has been hard at work distributing gifts donated by the kind-hearted people of Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk to children across the region.
While for some, Christmas can be a magical time, for others it can be filled with stress and worry. Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids has received requests for over 23,000 children across the region so far this Christmas. One Parent Families Scotland supports single parents, helping them reach their potential in a number of ways including putting them on the path to further training, assisting them with re-entering the world of work and providing childcare.
With only one income to rely on, the charity finds that many children go without at Christmas but Cash for Kids seasonal charity drive has ensured 183 presents have been distributed to children of single parents helped by One Parent Families Scotland.
Tom Carroll from One Parent Families Scotland (above) said: “Over the last few years One Parent Families Scotland has been helped tremendously by the kindness of Cash for Kids, Mission Christmas.
“This is a difficult time for many lone parents and the help that is given by Cash for Kids helps alleviate some of the stress and pressure felt at this time of year. On behalf of all the lone parents, and the children who receive Mission Christmas gifts, a huge thank you!”
It’s not just one parent families who face increased hardship at this time of year, support is also needed for those struggling to make ends meet as heating homes and providing food for the table often means presents are bottom of the list.
Whole Family Support Service provides invaluable support to disadvantaged families across Edinburgh and has also benefitted from Forth 1 and Forth 2’s Mission Christmas appeal with 63 presents donated to children who use the service.
Paul Henderson of Whole Family Support Service said: “Mission Christmas has provided great quality Christmas gifts for the families supported by our service, ensuring children wake up to a happy Christmas morning, relieving stress on parents.”
Victoria Hendry, Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids Charity Manager, said: “It really is incredibly rewarding to be able to support so many children and families that find this time of year particularly tough. The generosity of Forth 1 and Forth 2 listeners goes such a long way and makes a real difference.”
In 2017 nearly 21,000 underprivileged children from across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk received Christmas presents thanks to Cash for Kids Mission Christmas. £1.1 million was raised last year, ensuring more children than ever before awoke to brand new presents on Christmas morning.
Mission Christmas – in partnership with B&M Bargain and B&M Home Stores – is appealing for support to help even more children in 2018. New and unwrapped gifts can now be donated at a number of locations including local B&M stores and ASDA as well as at the Gyle Shopping centre. A full list of locations can be found at forth1.com/mission
Mission Christmas also accepts monetary donations which can be made online, via text or in person at Radio Forth, Forth House, Forth Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3LE.
Further information on how to support Mission Christmas is available at forth1.com/mission and the deadline for gift donations is 18th December.
Any gifts donated after the deadline, or surplus gifts from more popular age groups, will be distributed in the New Year to families in refuges and other emergency situations or stored securely to be used the following year.
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