Kind-hearted Liverpool City Council staff have donated thousands of pounds worth of Christmas presents to disadvantaged children and young people, as part of their annual Gift Appeal.
Toys, toiletries, books, biscuits, chocolates and pyjamas, as well as hundreds of pounds worth of gift vouchers, have been handed over to three deserving causes: the Homeless FC League, who will pass them onto children spending Christmas Day in one of the city’s homeless or domestic violence hostels, the Salvation Army, who will distribute the gifts to families in need and the council’s care leavers – young people who are just starting their adult lives after being under the council’s care. Many care leavers have experienced trauma in their lives and do not have family to spend Christmas with.
Staff embraced the season of goodwill by spending between £5-15 of their own money on a small gift for the appeal.
The Mayor joined council staff and representatives from the Salvation Army, John Finnigan from the Homeless FC League and care leavers, to hand over the gifts earlier this week.
Mayor Joe Anderson said: “Our Christmas gift appeal has been a massive success since it first launched in 2012, with thousands of items donated over the past five years by kind-hearted council staff.
“I am immensely proud of their generosity, which shows vulnerable children and young people in our city that we care. Thank to our wonderful workforce, these gifts will bring joy and happiness to many who would otherwise go without on Christmas Day.”
“It’s been a real team effort, with our staff ‘Charity Champions’ co-ordinating the appeal, employees from across the organisation taking part, our porters collecting gifts and our Passenger Transport team delivering them.”
