Help for Preston families through The Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal
The Salvation Army is calling on the community in Preston 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, Preston Salvation Army distributed gifts to more than 700 children with the church and charity fearing more families will need support this year.
Major Debbie Eaton, church leader of The Salvation Army Preston 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 church on Harrington Street will be collecting donations of new unwrapped toys until Sunday 30th November a long with Christmas treat items such as selection boxes, Christmas puddings, sweet tubs and chocolate coins.
People can drop their generous contribution at the church and community centre, Monday – Friday 9am – 1pm as well as at donation points in Asda, Fullwood, Sainsbury’s, Deepdale, and Morrisons, Riversway. The Salvation Army will then sort and distribute the gifts to children and families in the area through local groups, schools and social services.
For anyone that isn’t able to physically donate a gift, financial contributions can be made specifically for The Salvation Army’s Christmas appeal in Preston via www.justgiving.com/thesalvationarmychristmas-2025-232.
People can also donate through The Entertainer’s Big Toy appeal between 1 and to 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: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/christmas-present-appeal