UK: Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal 2008

Website: Click here

How does it work?

From Friday 21 November until Friday 19 December members of the public across the country are invited and encouraged to donate gifts for children aged 0-16. The gifts will be then be distributed to needy children and their families in the local area through The Salvation Army's own networks, health visitors and social services.

New, unwrapped gifts may be dropped off in collection bins in any Superdrug store (find your nearest Superdrug store) or other local designated Salvation Army collection points (use post code search), from where a team of volunteers from The Salvation Army will collect the toys and take them to the local church or headquarters where they will be wrapped by members who will ensure it reaches a needy child or teenager in time for Christmas.

Suggested gifts for children/young pople

0-3 years: soft toys, educational toys - colourful and fun, cot mobiles etc, items of clothing (baby grows etc), bath toys, CDs with suitable music and nursery rhymes.

3-5: toys - dolls, cars, lorries, soft toys (suitable for boys and girls); educational games and toys (colourful and fun), books, CDs (music and nursery rhymes) DVDs and videos suitable for that age group, colouring sets, pencils, crayons, books, jigsaw puzzles

5-9: toys, educational games and toys, stationery (colouring sets, pencils, crayons, school sets) CDs and family friendly DVDs and videos, books, jigsaw puzzles, wordsearch, crosswords,

9-12: suitable games and toys, stationery, CDs, DVDs and videos, books, items of clothing including tee-shirts, hair ornaments (for girls!), gloves, scarves, hats

13-17: CDs, DVDs and videos, books, toiletries (please try to ensure non-allergic ingredients if possible), gloves, scarves, hats