Family Appeal 'a time for giving'

New toys can be left at the collection points

People in Northern Ireland have been asked to think of those less well off as their Christmas shopping gets into full swing.

The annual appeal run by charities St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army, in conjunction with the BBC, is gathering Christmas gifts for families in need.

Among those who have already been helping out are the members of the Christian Motorcycle Association.

Christian bikers have been gathering presents

They have been collecting gifts of all shapes and sizes and have already delivered them to the Salvation Army to be distributed.

If you would like to donate a gift, you have until 20 December to drop it into one of the collection points located across Northern Ireland.

Presents should be new, safe, non-perishable and unwrapped, and for children of all ages from babies to teenagers.

Family gifts such as games or tins of biscuits are also acceptable.

BBC Joint Family Appeal collection points
Click for the details

Families who wish to receive presents from the appeal, should apply to St Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army by Friday, 13 December.

Colm McNicholl of St Vincent de Paul has said there are more than 2,000 volunteers waiting to distribute toys and gifts in every part of Northern Ireland.

"We hope that the public will again demonstrate its generosity toward disadvantaged children who may be living nearer to them than they think," he said.

Pamela Neill of the Salvation Army said every year the public responded to the appeal by the giving of a gift for a child unknown to them.

"This speaks volumes to us. We work with families 365 days a year and know the problems that they have to endure and it is a privilege to act as a conduit from those 'slightly better off' to those less comfortable, particularly at Christmas," she said.