The Wood Street Mission charity, which helps children and families living on a low income in Manchester and Salford and includes the SmartStart free school uniform programme, has launched its 2020 Christmas Appeal.

Every Christmas, Wood Street Mission provides new toys and gifts for children aged 0-14 years to ensure they have something special to open on Christmas Day. Families come and choose the gifts they would like to give their children from the selection donated by supporters.

Furthermore, this year the Great Northern Warehouse has allowed the charity to ‘decamp’ its entire Christmas project to the site. This will enable families to visit to collect their presents in a safe environment whilst adhering to social distancing rules.

2019 saw the distribution of 11,280 Christmas presents, with 220 volunteers supporting the Christmas Appeal.

Wood Street Mission is calling for donations of new toys, gifts or books, unwrapped, for ages 0-14 years. Please refer to its Gift Ideas List for suggestions. Donations are being taken until Friday 11 December 2020.

Donations can also be dropped off from Monday-Friday 9am-4pm at Great Northern Community Room on Deansgate Mews. Or, alternatively, at Wood Street Mission, 26 Wood Street, M3 3EF. To arrange a collection please call 0161 834 3140 or email collections@woodstreetmission.org.uk.

Finally, if you are a company, school or other organisation wanting to help, please contact sophie@woodstreetmission.org.uk.

For further information on the Christmas Appeal, please click here.