Good beginning to Christmas appeal

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32779, 2 December 1971, Page 5

Good beginning to Christmas appeal

If contributions to the Christchurch Methodist Central Mission’s Christmas appeal continued at the rate of the last , two Weeks, last year’s total would be exceeded, said the secretary of the Mission (Miss A. M. Page).

Money had been coming in steadily for two weeks, and the first parcels arrived yesterday, Miss Page said. The

appeal ends in Christmas week.

The Acting Superintendent (the Rev. B. E. Mackie) said that the Mission relied particularly on the proceeds of the Christmas appeal. This

year, running costs had increased 20 per cent. If contributions to the Mission did not increase, existing services could not be maintained.

The appeal had been held by the Mission for the last

21 years. Usually about 400 Christmas parcels containing food, clothing or toys were distributed to families which were unable to afford Christmas extras.

About 30 per cent of the contributions came in the form of parcels and the remainder in cash, said Mr Mackie.

Assistance was given to all age groups, regardless of colour or creed. Those who tended to benefit most from the appeal were older people living on a pension and unable to make ends meet, even though many of them had applied for a supplementary benefit.

Young people, temporarily out of work and with no relatives in Christchurch, and unmarried mothers away from home and with accommodation difficulties, also were helped. . .Gifts w ent to those the Mission had contacted during the year, often through local churches. The theme of the appeal this year was “I care," said Mr Mackie. It was also an invitation to the public to show they did, too.