By Andy Dalton
A charity based in West Leeds is gearing up to help local people this Christmas.
Leeds City Mission are organising a ‘Pop Up Christmas Charity Shop’ in their premises in Mistress Lane, Armley for the next four weeks.
They have gathered a range of donated seasonal items in good condition – all of which will make excellent christmas presents for those with limited cash to spend. These have been put on display and they are inviting local people to ‘pop-in’ and browse at any time between 10.30 am and 2.30 am midweek (not Wednesday) or 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Children’s toys and games, artificial Christmas trees, Santa costumes and seasonal gifts for adults are just some of the items.
In addition there are a small quantity of ‘Real Advent Calendars’. The calendars are unique – the chocolate is all Fairtrade.
It contains a 24-page Christmas story activity book. A donation from every sale is made to The Funzi and Bodo Trust. This Leeds-based charity works in two isolated mud hut villages in Kenya called Funzi and Bodo. They help provide medical and maternity care though their clinics for babies and their mothers in extreme poverty.
Dagmar Truman from Leeds City Mission said that this was one of the few ethical Advent Calendars produced in the UK and the City Mission had obtained them from the Meaningful Chocolate Company.
Volunteers at the City Mission will also be giving away Christmas greetings tags. One volunteer has created 4750 tags from 2240 used greetings cards. Visitors can browse through the wide variety of tags and take what they want.
Leeds City Mission staff worker Dagmar Truman said that in the week before Christmas they are expecting a delivery of freshly cut sprigs of holly. These too will be made freely available without charge to anyone calling at the ‘Mission Room’premises which is located at the junction of Mistress Lane and Mistress Lane.
She concluded that this christmas initiative was designed to help people under financial pressure make the most of the yuletide season.
Leeds City Mission is a multi-church Christian agency which has worked with marginalised people since 1837 and seeks to meet the physical, social and spiritual needs of Leeds residents. More details on 0113 345 3118.
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