VIDEO: Salvation Army prepares for festive packing week

The Salvation Army, in Crescent Road, Worthing, is preparing for its festive packing week and has 260 parcels to give so far.
Ruth Justice and Sarah Evans at the Salvation Army in WorthingRuth Justice and Sarah Evans at the Salvation Army in Worthing
Ruth Justice and Sarah Evans at the Salvation Army in Worthing

The charity, which is dedicated to helping the homeless, elderly, lonely and needy is holding its annual Christmas Present Appeal.

Over the years, millions of children and young people have benefited from gifts donated to the charity.

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A number of local bodies donate the gifts, including schools, charities, retailers and social workers.

Ruth Justice and Sarah Evans at the Salvation Army in WorthingRuth Justice and Sarah Evans at the Salvation Army in Worthing
Ruth Justice and Sarah Evans at the Salvation Army in Worthing

Ruth Justice, a volunteer and member of the church, has been packing parcels for nine years and said the job is ‘hard work but so rewarding’.

She said: “Some of the stories we hear, we wonder how these people have coped and it is great to see how grateful people are when they receive the gifts.

“The general public are very very generous in giving to us.”

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The retired school teacher was adopted at six weeks old by a Christian family and said this is the ‘christian way of giving to the unfortunate’.

Ruth Justice and Sarah Evans at the Salvation Army in WorthingRuth Justice and Sarah Evans at the Salvation Army in Worthing
Ruth Justice and Sarah Evans at the Salvation Army in Worthing

“Things turned out very well for me and I fortunately didn’t have to go into an orphanage – it is great to give back to those who are not as fortunate,” Ruth said.

Toys and gifts are given to children, as well as food parcels to families, older people and people experiencing homelessness.

Major Sarah Evans, said the Christmas Present Appeal is the ‘icing on the cake’ after the work of the charity which goes on throughout the year.

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She said: “We are really grateful to the many people who help us out – such as Worthing Rotary, Iceland in Goring Road, who have been really kind this year in collecting for us.

“It really just helps us to make Christmas that little bit more special for some of these families where perhaps they just need a little bit of light and hope into their lives because of other things that are going on which makes life a bit difficult for them – whether that be bereavement, loss of job, break down of family life.

“This just helps them to know that other people do care about them.”

Volunteers of all ages will be packing the festive parcels next week in the church in Crescent Road – some who return year after year.

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The gifts are then wrapped and distributed to those in need.

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