Give food and gift donations early suggest NI charity, BCM

Give food and gift donations early suggest NI charity.

One extra gift from you this festive season could make all the difference to a family or older person in need.

Northern Ireland Charity Belfast Central Mission (BCM) distributed over 1900 toy parcels and almost 1000 food parcels to local families and older people in need  last Christmas and due to the current economic climate they feel that there will be an even greater demand this year.

With mass redundancies across the country and an increasing number of families facing a festive period without many of life’s little luxuries, BCM is hopeful that once again the general public will dig deep to donate food and toy items to help those in need.

Although the preferred route for donations is to leave them into BCM’s Glengall Street, Belfast HQ, BCM also understand that many people now purchase their festive gifts online (instead of visiting the high street stores), so another suggestion is that those interested can simply have an item purchased online sent to BCM directly for distribution to the boy/girl or family that it will suit best.

Suitable items are non-perishable food and gifts suitable for boys/girls aged 1-16. Gifts/toys suitable for ages 1-3 are always welcome.

BCM’s Director Brian Burns commented on the upcoming Christmas Programme ‘We do anticipate there will be more demand for support over the festive period this year. We will as always try to meet the needs of all who apply for assistance. We do however ask the public, local businesses and community groups to think ahead and begin donating now, to ensure we can uphold our ethos and motto of ‘Supporting those who need it most’. BCM over its 120 plus years have found that tough economic times often bring out the more generous side of people and hopefully 2011 will see that continue.”

For more information on suitable items to give or to learn more about the work of BCM across the community please visit www.belfastcentralmission.org