Salvation Army to provide food parcels for Oldham families again this Christmas

Pictured (left to right) are Kim Rogers with Salvation Army church leader Julia Anyon - 1,000 Oldham children were fed thanks to the Salvation Army in 2023, and this year fears are the demand will be more

The Salvation Army in Oldham will be handing out food parcels to families in the lead-up to Christmas as more people struggle to make ends meet and are being pushed into poverty.

During what should be one of the happiest times of the year, the church and community centre in Fitton Hill, on Fir Tree Precinct, will be providing food and care packages to families on the lowest of incomes when the schools finish for the Christmas break.

Many families remain gripped in the cost-of-living crisis, spending money on high household and energy bills instead of putting food on the table.

Stepping in to support when times get tough, The Salvation Army will work with schools, GPs and social services on a referral basis to ensure that the hardest hit families will be supported, as many struggle to stretch budgets and buy extra food when the lifeline of free school meals comes to an end.

Kim Rogers, community engagement co-ordinator at The Salvation Army in Fitton Hill, said: “Christmas can be an expensive time for everyone, but for the people who have struggled all year with the agonising choice between heating and eating, Christmas brings extra financial pressure and many struggle to make ends meet, ending the year in turmoil and starting the new year in debt.

“The families who are in receipt of free school meals are the ones impacted the most when the schools close and two weeks is a long time to find extra money when budgets are already stretched.

"By providing that little bit of support when times are tough and assisting our community is what the Christmas story inspires us to do, and being at the heart of communities when they need us the most is what The Salvation Army will continue to do.

"We expect our services to be needed more than ever as we end this year and go into the next.”

To support The Salvation Army in its work of providing food parcels, non-perishable food items can be donated to the church and community centre in Fitton Hill until next Friday, December 13.

Items required include pasta, rice, tinned meat, pasta sauce, tinned vegetables, soup, tea, coffee, sugar and juice as well as festive treats like mince pies and selection boxes.

For people who are unable to donate physically but still wish to contribute, financial donations can be made via JustGiving here

Donations to support the Christmas Present Appeal for children throughout Oldham can also be made via this link.

To help support The Salvation Army’s year-round work, please visit: salvationarmy.org.uk/donate

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