Auckland City Mission Christmas Appeal Needs Cash Donations Now

Everyone is encouraged to support the Auckland City Mission by making a cash donation to its Christmas Appeal to help those who will otherwise spend Christmas hungry and alone.

During the next month the Auckland City Mission's Christmas Appeal needs to raise $600,000 for:

* Food parcels for families and individuals who have emergency needs throughout the Christmas period

* Furniture, clothing and household goods for families in crisis

* Presents and toys for children who will otherwise go without

* Family Christmas food hampers to provide a few little extras that can make Christmas day a special day

* New Zealand's largest Christmas dinner for over 1,000 people at the Auckland Town Hall.

Auckland City Missioner Diane Robertson says the focus of this year's appeal is 'family' and 'exclusion'.

"The reality for many New Zealanders is that Christmas is a stark time - a time of loneliness, deprivation and exclusion. We implore all Aucklanders to contribute as best as they can," she says.

Auckland City Mission's Christmas Appeal will not only help to ensure that every Aucklander has the opportunity to enjoy Christmas but help to raise the funds needed to provide ongoing support so desperately required by the thousands marginalised by poverty and isolation.

Auckland City Mission's Christmas Appeal runs through December, culminating in the Christmas Dinner in the Auckland Town Hall on Christmas Day.

To make a donation please call 0800 CITY MISSION (0800 248 964) or post to the Auckland City Mission Christmas Appeal, Freepost 1129, P.O. Box 5352, Wellesley Street, Auckland.

There will be a Christmas Appeal Street Collection on Tuesday, December 9 from 7.30am to 9am and 12.00 noon to 2pm in Auckland Central and Newmarket.

New unwrapped presents, such as soft toys and games, can be dropped off at participating NZ Post Shop branches around Auckland.

Donations of food can be brought to 140 Hobson Street, Auckland Central. No perishables please.

About Auckland City Mission

The Auckland City Mission has been working with marginalised people for over 80 years. Services include an inner-city drop-in centre, crisis care and emergency relief, an emergency food programme, drug and alcohol services, housing support, a residential service for those suffering with HIV and AIDS and a therapy programme for traumatised children. The Auckland City Mission's Foodlink programme also distributes food to over 75 other community support organizations from Mercer to Cape Reinga.

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