More than 1,000 Oldham children fed as families continue to struggle

Pictured (left to right) are: Kim Rogers with Salvation Army church leader Julia Anyon

New figures from the Salvation Army at Fitton Hill reveal that over 1,000 children were supported with food hampers for Christmas Day, as local families ended last year continuing to struggle to put food on the table, heat their homes and pay their bills.   

More than 300 low-income families were helped by providing food hampers with key staples for Christmas Day to ensure children were fed as many families found themselves still gripped in the cost-of-living crisis.  

In total 318 families, consisting of more than 1,000 children under the age of 18, were able to eat and enjoy a hot Christmas Day meal thanks to the church and charity’s efforts to help the most vulnerable members within the Oldham community.  

Kim Rogers, community engagement co-ordinator at the Salvation Army in Fitton Hill, said: “We knew that families were struggling from the increased need we were seeing for our Christmas Present Appeal, but we wanted to do more as we know it is not just toys children need at Christmas; many receive free school meals when it is term time and the holidays can provide added pressure and financial strain when that support is taken away and the schools close.   

“The cost-of-living crisis is still very real to a lot of families within our community, hitting low-income families hard.

"We know many struggled throughout the course of last year and we expect that need to only increase as we make our way through 2024.

"We will always do everything that we can to support people in need, people that live amongst us, families that are pushed further and further into poverty.

"Times have been, and still are, tough and our work will continue.” 

The Salvation Army in Fitton Hill received support to roll out the hampers thanks to generous donations from Rotary Club of Oldham, Park Hill Nursing Home, Pentagon Motor Group Oldham and members of the Oldham community.

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