Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire launches Mission Christmas appeal
Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire is asking local residents to help “make Christmas magical” this year for underprivileged children across the region, by donating gifts and funds to their ‘Cash for Kids’ charity appeal.
The radio station want to make this year’s appeal bigger than ever, with many young people and families suffering hardship caused by the covid-19 pandemic.
In 2019 £978,801 of gifts and cash were distributed to more than 31,875 underprivileged children across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire; Greatest Hits say it is their mission to ensure no child wakes up without a present under their tree this year.
Greatest Hits Radio Account Manager, Alison Ollerenshaw said: “Mission Christmas will be more important than ever this year. COVID-19 is directly affecting unemployment levels and household incomes, pushing many more families into poverty this winter. Christmas could be a luxury that they simply can’t afford, but our mission is still to ensure that every child receives a gift from Santa on Christmas Day.”
Donations are distributed to children who have been identified by social services, head teachers and other charitable organisations.
In light of COVID-19 some changes have had to be made this year, with the need for social distancing to ensure that the team, volunteers, beneficiaries and donors are kept safe.
In previous years businesses have been asked to collect for the appeal, but to deliver the appeal safely this year the number of public-facing gift drop-off points has to be limited. A map of all the local businesses involved will be available online from 16th November.
There are also other ways for you to support the appeal this year. A cash donation would enable the charity to buy gifts where donations from the public fall short or where specialist items are needed for disabled children. Local people and businesses are also encouraged to organise a raffle or a challenge.
Companies with a showroom, a shop window, or a wall display are being asked to feature an interactive poster featuring a QR code that people can scan with their smartphone to donate.
Whilst the number of public facing drop-off points are being restricted, workplaces can still collect gifts internally and deliver them to Mission HQ as early as possible and ideally by Friday 11th December to give the reduced team more time to sort and distribute them.
To find out how you can get involved, contact Alison via email: Alison.ollerenshaw@bauermedia.co.uk or by calling 07867 361 855. You can also contact Audra via email: Audra.sloan@bauermedia.co.uk or by calling 07812 661 675.
Greatest Hits Radio supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
