Wood Street Mission, the Manchester and Salford children’s charity founded in 1869, has been providing Christmas support to low income families in the region for over 150 years, ensuring that every child, no matter what their circumstances, wakes up on Christmas day with something special to open and a smile on their face.
In 2019, Wood Street was able to provide over 11,000 toys to 4000 children thanks to the generosity of local people and businesses, and the hours put in by the charity’s army of volunteers.
Not once, even through world wars and recessions, has Wood Street Mission failed to fulfil its Christmas appeal. However, the ongoing Covid-19 crisis threw the project into doubt for the first time this year.
Social-distancing guidelines and limited space at the charity’s home on Wood Street (just off Deansgate and bordering Spinningfields) mean that the building is unable to house the amount of people and donations necessary to make the Christmas Appeal possible.
Wood Street Mission faced the unthinkable: thousands of children across Manchester & Salford waking up on Christmas morning without a single gift.
Thankfully, following an appeal on social media and a subsequent flurry of activity, Great Northern Warehouse has stepped in to be the lead drop of point and provide the space and resources needed to house the gifts collected to help over 1500 families this festive season.
The charity is now issuing an urgent call out for donations of new and packaged toys for children of all ages.
The Great Northern Gift Hub will open on 10 November however donations can be made from today to the Wood Street Mission HQ.
Those unable to get to the city centre can order donations via Amazon Wishlists that will deliver the toys directly to the charity:
