December 2016 sees the opening of the first Wood Street Mission Christmas Shop. On Friday 2nd December, preparations were being made and they were busy on what was the deadline date for referrals. Families already referred to other Wood Street Mission services within the last year can access the Christmas Shop or those newly referred by a social worker, support worker, health visitor, midwife or from refuges, other charities or schools. On this day, 9 members of staff and 45 volunteers, both regular and corporate, were working at the Wood Street Mission office. The donations of food were mainly from churches and schools and the toys from corporate supporters and individuals.
In 2015, Wood Street Mission distributed Christmas toys and a bag of food items to over 2000 families which benefited over 4500 children. However this year, families will be given a number of points, based on the number of children, and they can then make their selection from toys, gift wrapping and Christmas food in the shop. The shop will be open from Tuesday 6th December from Monday to Thursday. Another first for Wood Street Mission is that on Friday 9th and 16th, they will take the shop to community venues in Gorton and Langworthy. This will make it easier for families to collect goods at a location local to them.
This project benefits children and families, and it is just one part of the work that Wood Street Mission has carried out since 1869, and helps families at an expensive time of year. They can also give people information about their other activities such as SmartStart and school holiday book clubs, and signpost families to other organisations who may be able to provide support.
They are taking further donations of food and toys for the Christmas Appeal up to 16th December. People can also donate at https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/woodstreetmission/wsmxmasappeal
Helping at an expensive time of year - Wood Street Mission Winter Spirit Story
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