Merry Christmas mission
Donations needed to provide gifts and meals
Servant hearted church goers are eager to make sure everyone enjoys a blessed Christmas this festive season.
Lochside Mission and Outreach in Ayr are returning with their project Mission Christmas for the fourth year running.
And the group are joining with other community groups to see tums fed, youngsters enjoying a gift and good company overflowing.
But the project needs donations to be able to support those in the community by supplying new toys, utility vouchers and a tasty crimbo meal.
Last year the organisation supported over 497 individuals across the area.
Project Leader Dylan Harper said: “Last year we spent £ 11,000 so hopefully we can get cash donations in.
“The utility vouchers are huge because it’s cold, you need lights.
“Christmas is so exciting- you get up on Christmas day and it’s warm, you get breakfast and get the lights on.
“But actually in contrast, some of our families will wake up freezing, there’s no lights on and there’s no breakfast.
Lochside Mission and Outreach are now welcoming referrals for assistance with the following;
• children’s gifts
• utility vouchers • Christmas day meal for families
• New Year Day meal for adults who are struggling with addictions, mental health and/ or homelessness
To benefit from the Mission Christmas services, referrals can be sent to missionchristmas@ lochsidemission. org. uk.
For each please supply full details of the individual/ family referred including; name, address, ages and gender and request.
Deadline for referrals ( except crisis) is December 14 and all will be replied to within seven working days.
Deliveries are scheduled to take place on the days leading up to Christmas.
In the meantime, the project are appealing for donations of new children’s and teens gifts, wrapping paper, sellotape, gift bags and money for utility vouchers.
The church group will also be running a Christmas Day and New Year Day meals at the Lochside Church premises in Ayr.
D ylan said the project brings a whole host of people together.
He added: “It brings the whole community together.
“It brings people who are in a better position who are able to support it and give their time.
“But also family members who come and wrap for us.
“Although it is charity, it’s not charity at the same time - it’s a community act.”
Any volunteers wishing to get involved in donating their time to provide a hot meal for others can get in touch via the below.
And wrapping dates will be launched soon.
To donate, visit: https:// www. justgiving. com/ campaign/ MissionChristmasAyr2018 or donations can also be made via text code: Text MCHR18 £ 10 to 70070 to donate to Mission Christmas 2018.
Keep in touch with updates by visiting: https:// www. facebook. com/ lochsidemission/
Or to find out more call: 01292 286981 or email hello@ lochsidemission. org. uk