An Aberdeen charity has launched its annual Christmas Giving Tree appeal.
It involves giving new gifts to young people across the north-east who otherwise would not receive anything.
Instant Neighbour has been running the operation for 32 years, and last year they handed out 13,500 gifts.
The Giving Tree concept involves members of the public taking a card from a tree around the city that has the first name and age of a child in need.
Then they return the card with a gift for the child to open at Christmas.
Gifts will be handed out as far north as Elgin and as far south as Laurencekirk.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire remain ‘generous’
Chief executive of Instant Neighbour, Sophy Green, said: “We are delighted to coordinate the delivery of happiness across the north-east.
“We look forward to again being able to work closely with the community to deliver a great Christmas. We simply could not do this without the support of the citizens of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who have been very generous.
“There is a huge amount of work involved in making the appeal a success and I can’t thank our volunteers enough who help sort and distribute the gifts.”
The charity says they hope to give two presents to each child – with a value of around £25.
Children are put forward by 85 different organisations, including social services and food banks.
Lord Provost: ‘You are doing a phenomenal job’
Aberdeen City Lord Provost David Cameron launched the appeal on Tuesday evening at the Cognito at the Cross cafe in Queens Cross Church.
He told the crowd: “The townhouse usually has a tree in the reception and I hope we have one again this year.
“You are all doing a phenomenal job and are at a level where you are making a big difference.”
Why are Christmas trees up so early?
Mary Michie of Michies Pharmacy has been involved in the campaign since it began 32 years ago.
She says customers often wonder why there is a Christmas tree up so early in her coffee shop on Union Street.
Although she does not usually agree with early Christmas decorations, she says she makes an exception for the Giving Tree.
The charity says they need the gifts well in advance to organise and wrap each one for all the individual children.
This year’s delivery deadline is December 1.
It takes a massive amount of logistical work to get them back to the organisations, they usually hand them out at Christmas parties.
Where can you drop off gifts?
The gift tags can be collected and gifts dropped off at the following:
- Bon Accord Centre – Boots
- Home Comforts – Great Western Road
- Instant Neighbour Office – St Machar Drive, Aberdeen
- Michies the Chemist – Union Street
- Queens Cross Church
- Sainsbury’s Berryden
- Trinity Centre – Management Office
- Union Square – Customer Services
- Virgin Money – 1 Queens Cross
- Strachans – 11 West High Street, Inverurie
For full details on how to give a child a gift and spread some joy this Christmas, visit the Instant Neighbour website.
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