Salvation Army struggling to meet demand to support families as Christmas present donations dip
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The Salvation Army in Wigan is reaching the final stages of its Christmas Present Appeal and has identified a shortage of gifts for children aged eight to 18 years old.
Every year Salvation Army churches launch a Christmas Present Appeal asking people to donate new toys and gifts for children whose families are already making impossible choices between food, heating, and bills.
Last year The Salvation Army supported over 600 children across the Wigan borough, and the church and charity is fearing more families across Wigan will need support this year.
As physical gift donations are down, the need is even more urgent and the race is on to get donations in before the closing date of Thursday, December 18.
For anyone wishing to donate gifts for this age bracket, donations can be dropped off at the church and community centre on Scholes within the town.
Major Mark Lewis, church leader of The Salvation Army in Wigan said: “Christmas is usually a time of joy but with the ongoing struggles of day to day life - rising food prices, climbing energy bills - we’re seeing a large amount of people needing urgent, last-minute support as Christmas Day gets closer and the prospect of their child having no presents to open sadly becomes a reality.
“Times are challenging for everyone, and we have already witnessed the incredible generosity of our local community, welcoming a wide range of gift donations.
"However we are really struggling with the children in the older age brackets.
"Children from eight years old, to teenagers, to young adults – all deserve to have something to open on Christmas Day and we want to make that happen but need the support from our local community and we urge anyone that can, to help us with this last push as our appeal comes to a close.
“Everyone coming together to support those struggling in our community is what the Christmas story inspires us to do, and we are pleased to be a part of that.”
Gift ideas include educational toys, board games and colouring sets for ages eight to 12 years old and books, hat, scarf and glove sets, hair accessories, gift vouchers and puzzles for teenagers.
For more specific gifts and for anyone wishing to be involved in a contactless present drop facility, Salvation Army Wigan has set up an Amazon Wish List - Wigan. Users of the list can purchase goods direct from Amazon and have them delivered to the church.
The list can also be accessed via www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1JUMJ61EY09MM?ref_=wl_fv_le.
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 Wigan via www.justgiving.com/thesalvationarmychristmas-2025-244.
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