Christmas appeal calls on public to dig deep for needy kids

Salvation Army teams up with Glentoran as it faces busiest year because of cost-of-living crisis

Glentoran FC’s Cameron Palmer, Warren Feeney, Leanne Dawson and David Fisher with Salvation Army major Keira Wood

Salvation Army services manager Sean Patterson

Northern Ireland’s longest-running Christmas toy appeal is braced for its busiest year yet as more families face a choice between heating and eating.

The Salvation Army expects record demand for help in the run-up to the festive season as more people feel the pinch because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Glentoran FC, who also run an Christmas initiative, have joined forces with the church to ensure no child misses out.

The Family Appeal has been helping bring festive cheer to countless families for the past 44 years.

Sean Patterson, who manages Glen Alva, one of two Salvation Army homelessness hostels in Belfast, said: “We have 77 families here and 72 in our other hostel, Grove House.

“Many are local families who have lost their homes this year because they couldn’t afford to pay the rent.

“We always had a wee source of food and vouchers and other stuff donated throughout the year to help make life that little bit easier for people in the hostel, but that hasn’t been happening this year.

“People aren’t donating because they have so much stress in their own home lives with trying to keep themselves warm. It is the worst year I have seen in 15 years.”

Sean is hoping people will dig deep and donate to this year’s appeal, which he expects will be needed more than ever.

“The appeal is so important, the generosity of people is quite incredible,” he said.

“Thousands of families apply for help, and this year we already have people asking how they can apply.

“Usually people