THE SALVATION Army is urgently calling on the Forest of Dean community to help ensure no child in the region wakes up without a gift this Christmas.

This year, the organisation has seen an overwhelming rise in requests for support, with 1,200 children referred to their Christmas Present Appeal.

However, donations have slowed, and with just days to go, over 600 children are still at risk of missing out on the magic of Christmas morning.

Commanding officer Vivienne Prescott, who leads The Salvation Army in the Forest of Dean, described the situation as dire: “This is an urgent plea to our community. We are desperately running out of toys and gifts, specifically for boys and girls aged zero to six years and teenagers aged 12 to 17 years.

“We’ve already packed gifts for 600 children, but we’ve depleted most of our stock and still have hundreds more referrals to fulfil. Christmas is a time for joy and giving, and no child should feel forgotten. I can’t imagine what it would be like to wake up on Christmas Day without a present – it’s heartbreaking.”

Ms Prescott emphasised the importance of community support to meet this extraordinary demand: “With your help, we can ensure every one of these children has something to look forward to on Christmas morning. Donations are needed urgently, as we aim to distribute gifts as early as possible to relieve the stress on families and help them avoid falling into debt.”

The Salvation Army is accepting donations of toys, gifts, and financial contributions. Residents, businesses, and organisations are encouraged to act quickly to ensure these children are not left out.

Donations can be made at The Salvation Army Hub in Broadwell, Coleford, from Wednesday to Friday.

Alternatively, those unable to visit in person can donate via the organisation’s Amazon wishlist.