I really want to do more but the money isn’t there. Without your donations it would be empty under the tree

filled you up, regardless of how bland they tasted.

“When the kids would ask why we ate noodles we’d just say we liked them. They didn’t need to know.

“Every pound is accounted for. It’s tough on a Thursday or Friday when the kids ask why we don’t have this or that and I have to say I’ll do the shop at the weekend.”

Maggie can’t recall the last time she had enough for a night out with friends.

But even with the canniest juggling of the finances, Christmas is just too big a hurdle.

As a kid Maggie recalls her parents being able to provide plenty and she didn’t want for toys and treats.

It’s very different for her, however, as a mum trying to bring festive joy to her kids.

She has to take out a Provident loan each year, not paid back until the following year lest it take too

But Maggie’s is a battle that would be totally impossible at Christmas if it weren’t for Cash For Kids.

Her family, from Aberdeen, is one of thousands which have been helped by the annual campaign.

After a report revealing more than one in three kids in some parts of Scotland live in poverty, The Sunday Post has teamed up with the Cash For Kids Mission Christmas appeal to help deliver respite, and festive fun, to even more children. much from the household budget. “I always tell the kids that they can only ask Santa for one present each,” she says.

“They know there will be little odds and ends on top. I want to do more, I really do, but even with the loan the money just isn’t there. MORE than 200,000 children in Scotland are growing up in poverty.

The End Child Poverty coalition survey said the UK-wide figure was 3.5 million.

Glasgow is the worst-hit local authority area north of the border with 34.1% of children affected.

The Shetland Islands, with 10.6%, was the least affected. Things like computers, which you know kids want, j ust aren’t possible.”

But Cash For Kids has been making Christmas that bit more special for the past couple of years.

Shortly before the big day, just as in homes all across the country,