Christmas Appeal beneficiaries support children and families this year | OneFootball

With our annual Christmas Appeal now in full swing, the support thus far from the Celtic Family has, as always, been truly phenomenal.

We now turn our attention to the organisations who will benefit from your wonderful support and today, we focus on those beneficiaries who assist vulnerable families and children.

We heard from some of these organisations on the importance of the support received, including Lesley Davidson of Loaves and Fishes, who recently hosted a very special visit from Celtic’s Nicolas Kühn and Luke McCowan.

Lesley said: “At Loaves and Fishes we unfortunately have to supply around 250 food parcels a week. This puts enormous pressure on our service, so the support from the Foundation is invaluable.

“Every Christmas, we say that it can’t get any busier, but it does. But every Christmas, the Foundation are there supporting us and it means so much, we can’t thank everyone that contributes enough.

“It was also fantastic to have Nicolas and Luke with us for the day. It was great to see them get stuck in and get involved by helping to make up some food parcels, and we’re grateful to them for coming to see us.”

We also heard from some of the other beneficiaries on the impact of the Foundation’s support.

Michelle McDonald, PEEK

“The ongoing cost of living crisis has contributed to deepening poverty in Glasgow, with families unable to afford the basics like food, heating and clothing. This has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of so many children, young people and families. PEEK aims to reduce the impact of poverty through campaigns such as our Winter Warmer Appeal, providing new warm winter clothing and wellbeing support. This would not be possible without the support from Celtic FC Foundation, thank you so much.”

Amy Jo Battersby, Salvation Army Parkhead

“The Christmas period is one of the busiest times of the year for the Salvation Army. Many of those who we support face their biggest challenges at this time, from financial strain to loneliness. The support offered by Celtic FC Foundation is a huge relief to those who are receiving our help. Whether it is an open, warm and friendly space on Christmas day to come and be with others, a meal together or presents under a tree at home, the support we are able to provide because of the financial input from the Foundation has taken a very dark time of the year and filled it with light. Thank you for your continued support.”

Patrick Rolink, Spirit Aid

“Spirit Aid has received tremendous support from Celtic FC Foundation over many years in our quest to mitigate the effects of food and energy poverty in our communities and thanks to this support, we have been able to put food on many tables. Christmas is a special time of year and we hope that our support brings some comfort and joy to those most in need. We appreciate the inspirational kindness and generosity of the Celtic Family and are grateful for the wonderful commitment shown by the Foundation, towards making a difference and effecting positive change. Thank you all for your kindness, generosity and compassion.”

Audrey Dempsey, Glasgow's Number 1 Baby & Family Support Service

“Winter and Christmas are often seen as a time of joy, warmth and togetherness. But for the vulnerable people we support, it’s a starkly different reality. The cold months bring hardship, with many struggling to stay warm, fed and hopeful. We work to ensure that no child wakes up on Christmas morning feeling forgotten and no family endures the season without some sense of comfort and care. The support we’ve received from Celtic FC Foundation previously has been nothing short of transformative. Their generosity has helped us turn despair into hope and silence into laughter for so many children. We’ve been able to provide toys and gifts to vulnerable children who might otherwise have faced Christmas with nothing. To all who have contributed, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Chris Glancey, AWARE Scotland

“The festive season is a crucial time for us to support the disabled and disadvantaged young people we work with. Over the Christmas and winter period, we plan to provide Christmas gifts to them and their families who need it most and organise festive outings and events. Our wellbeing activities are also vital throughout the winter months for maintaining physical and mental wellbeing, providing a sense of routine and creating a space for our young people to connect and express themselves. Support from Celtic FC Foundation helps us to deliver these activities, purchase gifts and ensure that no young person or family feels left behind during this special time of year. Your generosity helps us bring smiles, laughter and a sense of belonging to some of the most vulnerable young people in our community. Your contributions embody the true spirit of Christmas and we are very grateful for your support in making this happen.”

Support provided for families and children through the Appeal extends beyond Glasgow and the West, as we also assist organisations in Ireland and London, as well as the likes of Hope Kitchen Oban and Newcastle Foodbank.

Catriona Petit, Hope Kitchen Oban

“Christmas can be a very difficult time for the people we support. Some have very little money to buy things for their family and some have had negative previous experiences during the festive season and the celebrations remind them of these past times. At Hope Kitchen, we are open throughout the festive season, including Christmas Day, which means that people can experience the warmth and joy of being with others and their families can enjoy a Christmas meal. We also provide Christmas gift bags to over 400 people, which include toys for children, gifts for adults and tasty Christmas treats. Thanks to all the supporters of the Foundation for being so thoughtful about the needs of others over Christmas. We are particularly pleased that even though we are up in Oban, we are not forgotten about. Your help has made a massive difference to so many people who would have very little otherwise.”

John McCorry, Newcastle Foodbank

“The festive period is a challenging time for many families across the city and, historically, this our busiest time of the year. It’s truly heartwarming to receive support from Celtic FC Foundation. Last year, the Foundation’s support helped Newcastle Foodbank to assist hundreds of families and individuals with food in December. This is a wonderful example of the Foundation’s engagement with charities, to help local communities and people in their time of need. We are truly grateful to those who donate to the Foundation’s Christmas Appeal, as their generosity of spirit makes life that little easier for struggling households to cope at Christmas. Thank you for all your help and kind donations.”

You can also read more about all of the organisations who will benefit from your support at our Appeal webpage HERE.

Through this year’s Appeal, we hope to assist local families facing poverty, so they can enjoy the type of Christmas that many of us take for granted.

As well as pensioners, women and children in refuge, the homeless community, refugees, and a host of others who would otherwise struggle over the festive period.

Together we can ‘Make Christmas Magic’.

To get behind this year’s Christmas Appeal, you can:

Thank you for your magnificent support.

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