Help for families in the Black Country through The Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal
The Salvation Army is calling on the communities in the Black Country to share love and hope this Christmas by donating new toys to its Christmas Present Appeal to help give children a Christmas they deserve.
Every year Salvation Army churches ask people to donate new toys and gifts for children whose families are already making impossible choices between food, heating, and bills.
Last year, Birmingham and the Black Country Salvation Army distributed more than 1,180 toy parcels, containing over 7,500 individual gifts with the church and charity fearing more people will need support this year.
A spokesperson of the Salvation Army in the Black Country said: “Our Christmas Present Appeal is an opportunity for people in our community to embrace the spirit of Christmas and give to families and individuals who have very little.
“Christmas is meant to be a time of love and joy, but for many it’s a time of stress and despair when financial worries are brought into sharp focus for families who are struggling to heat their homes, let alone provide presents for their children.
“The Christmas present appeal is how we put our belief into action, showing love where it’s needed most. We believe every child deserves to experience joy on Christmas morning. We are always overwhelmed by the generosity of the public in supporting our appeal each year and we hope you continue to do so to ensure every child wakes up on Christmas Day with a smile on their face.”
The Salvation Army in the Black Country includes its churches in Oldbury, Dudley, Willenhall, Darlaston, and Cradley Heath. Each church is partaking in the Christmas Present Appeal with dedicated drop-off points, available giving pages for online donors, and festive community events for local families to attend. Find below details of how you can support your local area:
The Salvation Army in Darlaston & Willenhall:
Drop-off locations: church halls at Darlaston and Willenhall
End date for drop-off: Sunday, December 7
Types of toys most needed: for teenagers and babies
Links for online donation: JustGiving and Amazon Wishlist
Partner locations: The Entertainer (Walsall and Wolverhampton)
Special events/date/time: Community Carol at Darlaston Town Hall (December 13, 6pm) | Christmas at Willenhall (4 December, 11am).
Visit website for more activities: Willenhall | The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army in Oldbury:
Drop-off locations: All Salvation Army churches and Charity shops in the Black Country
End date for drop-off: Sunday, December 7
Types of toys most needed: toys for boys ages 10-12
Links for online donation: N/A
Partner locations: The Entertainer anywhere in the Black Country
Special events/date: Panto (December 7) | Traditional Christmas Carol (December 21)
Visit website for more activities: Oldbury | The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army in Dudley:
Drop-off locations: Dudley Salvation Army, North Street, Dudley. DY2 7DT. On Mondays and Thursdays between 9 and 12 noon.
End date for drop-off: Thursday, December 4
Types of toys most needed: no specifics, anything ages 0-17
Links for online donation: N/A
Partner locations: The Entertainer (Merry Hill)
Special events/date/time: Carol by Candlelight (December 14, 4pm).
Visit website for more activities: Dudley | The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army in Cradley Heath:
Drop-off locations: Cradley Heath Salvation Army, and Salvation Army Charity Shop in Stourbridge
End date for drop-off: Friday, December 5
Types of toys most needed: for teenage boys and babies
Links for online donation: JustGiving
Partner locations: Red Glass Boutique in Stourbridge, and Halesowen College
Special events/date/time: Christmas Fayre (November 29, 10am-1pm) | Toy Service (December 7, 3pm)
Visit website for more activities: Cradley Heath | The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army will sort and distribute the gifts to children and families in the respective areas through local groups, schools and social services.
Gifts can include anything from educational toys, baby clothes, bath toys, books, including learn to read books (for babies and toddlers) to dolls and action figures, sports equipment and clothing, toiletries (please try to ensure non-allergic ingredients if possible), gloves, scarves, hats, T-shirts, hair accessories and gift vouchers for older children.
Donations through The Entertainer’s Big Toy appeal possible open between 1 and 29 November. 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.
A church and charity, The Salvation Army expresses its Christian faith by offering friendship, practical help and support to some of the most disadvantaged people in our communities. To help support The Salvation Army’s year-round work please visit: salvationarmy.org.uk/donate
For more information about the Christmas Present Appeal and ideas about gifts, see our website: salvationarmy.org.uk/christmas-present-appeal
