Bringing back the true meaning of Christmas
Christmas is a time for celebration, a time for many when we gather close with loved ones, sharing in food, warmth, and laughter.
Yet, amid the festive cheer, many around us struggle to meet their most basic needs.
During Advent and Christmas, we are increasingly bombarded with calls to buy more, spend more and consume more and respond to the unending call to accumulate this. For many, Christmas brings not abundance but acute need.
Here, Patrick O’Dowd, our director, explains more about our latest campaign and asks if you can help us #BeeThere for local people facing acute crisis this Christmas…
It’s easy to get lost in the stress of this time of year. Every time we turn on our TV we are bombarded with adverts encouraging us to consume more and more things. We’re often tied to a huge (and ever-growing) to-do list as we strive for the perfect Christmas.
But, as our teams know, many children, young people and adults in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, don’t even have the basics.
While some of us might be browsing the supermarket shelves deciding on whether to buy one tin of sweets or two for Christmas day, some of the people we work alongside don’t have food for their baby, warm clothes or heating, or for some even the security of a roof over their family’s heads.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to affect people in our local communities, many individuals and families are being forced into situations they never imagined would happen.
People are facing forced evictions, having to choose between eating or staying warm, facing Christmas alone, or sleeping rough. And, sadly, this situation is not uncommon.
There are more than 333,000 children in our diocese living in poverty – that’s around one in every two children in a class. These aren’t just statistics, they are real people facing incredibly difficult times right now.
This isn’t just something that happens to other people either. We hear over and over again that people didn’t think they would be in this situation. But, sadly, it could happen to any of us, at any time.
It could be happening right now to your neighbour, your friend, your colleague, or someone in your child’s football team. These aren’t just statistics; they’re real people who urgently need support this Christmas and year round.
As demand for our services continues to grow, and people hit acute crisis point, we’re determined to be there for as many of them as we can. But we really need your help.
As a charity, we feel pressures of the cost-of-living crisis too. We need to make sure we can continue to provide a warm space for people to come for support. We need to buy food, clothing, and resources to ensure they have what they need to help them as they transform their lives with dignity.
With costs rising, and demand increasing, we’re asking for the support of local people this Christmas to help as many individuals and families as we can.
Please, let’s not just make this time of year about the tinsel, the parties and the supermarket queues.
Can you help us to put the true meaning back into Christmas now and #BeeThere with a gift that can truly help transform lives? Your support can be a lifeline.
As you can see from the short video below, we’re asking people to consider making a donation, or if a financial contribution isn’t possible for you, sharing our message, pledging a small action, or spreading awareness is just as valuable in helping us make a difference.
However small that support might feel, people in your area, your street, your place of work or your wider community can transform their lives this Christmas thanks to your kindness. People facing crisis right now. People in urgent need of support.
Watch the video below now, and please donate if you can.
Thank you.
To find out more about this year’s #BeeThere appeal, take a look at this page on our website: www.caritassalford.org.uk/beethere