WE CAN STILL SAVE CHRISTMAS – But we need your help!

With your help children’s charity Cash for Kids can help make Christmas happen for thousands of local children living in poverty, despite COVID-19 causing significant disruption to this years’ toy and gift appeal.

The children’s charity rely on festive events to generate donations – all of which have been cancelled, and the current lockdown has closed many of the 500+ drop off points usually involved with collecting tens of thousands of toys and gifts to help children wake up to presents on Christmas Day morning.

There have been significant changes to the normal operation which means that there will be significantly reduced drop off points and reduced volunteers at their Mission HQ, based at Hallam FM, to accommodate social distancing.

With the COVID-19 global pandemic this year, Christmas is going to be tougher than ever for those in need. The Trussell Trust has predicted that at least 670,000 extra people across the UK will become destitute in the last three months of the year this is a level of poverty that leaves them unable to meet basic food, shelter or clothing needs. With the increase in unemployment and reduction in working hours for many families, Christmas is simply a luxury they cannot afford, families are having to make difficult decisions this Christmas between food/heating and gifts.

Donors are encouraged to donate online so the charity can buy pallet stock from local distribution centres to help generate the volume of toys to match the increasing demands for support. Businesses can also get involved by making corporate donations, donating funds from cancelled Christmas parties or by encouraging their staff to host fundraising activities like Christmas jumper days and donating their last hour of pay.

Donors can still take a new and unwrapped toy or gift to one of the drop off points listed on the online map on the Mission Christmas website, which include B&M Stores across the region who are open during lockdown as essential retailers.

John Harrison, who this year celebrated presenting Big John at Breakfast for 20 years, said: “This year is going to be particularly tough for many families across South Yorkshire. Mission Christmas is a brilliant way for people to act in the true spirit of the season and give a little something to lift the spirits of disadvantaged young people who really do deserve it.”

“This year there have been so many examples of the community pulling together to support everyone and I know that it will be even better than ever before.”

“It’s easy to play your part, all you need to do is buy one extra gift before December 18th and hand it in to one of our collection points or visit our website to make a donation. Let’s make 2020’s Mission Christmas our best ever and bring some Christmas cheer to the children who need it most.”

Cash for Kids charity manager Allan Ogle, who heads up the appeal, added: “A child going without gifts at Christmas is a horrifying thought. We want to give some hope to these families going through the worst times and by bringing the community together to show they haven’t been forgotten about will provide some much needed hope for the future and show how much we care about the people in our local community.”

Cash for Kids works with hundreds of grass-root organisations and charities across the region who support disadvantaged children (0 – 18 years). Mission Christmas works closely with social workers, head teachers and the emergency services who will nominate families in crisis to be supported by the appeal.

For further details, including information on how to get involved or make a donation, please visit www.hallamfm.co.uk/mission or contact the charity team by calling 0114 2091100. A video meeting some of last years beneficiaries can be found on the Cash for Kids Yorkshire Facebook page.