AS our annual Christmas Appeal begins to draw to a close, we continue with our spotlight series on this year’s appeal beneficiaries, with a look at the work of Glasgow City Mission.
Glasgow City Mission has been in operation since 1826, aiming to make a practical difference to the lives of Glasgow’s poor and marginalised.
The organisation’s work focuses on serving those who are facing homelessness or other disadvantage within Glasgow’s city centre. Support received in the past through Celtic FC Foundation’s Christmas Appeal, has helped Glasgow City Mission to fund their evening drop-in service, throughout the winter period.
The service provides a hot meal to an average of 130 men and women each evening and offers a safe space, where guests can benefit from building relationships of trust, with the staff and volunteers.
Eating together around the table allows conversations to flow in a natural way in a peaceful environment. Through relationships created during the drop-in service, guests can be signposted to the daytime services run by Glasgow City Mission, where they can develop their skills, grow in confidence and move forward in their lives.
Joy Andrew, Marketing and Fundraising Officer at Glasgow City Mission spoke of the organisation’s gratitude for the support received, saying: “We are very grateful to Celtic FC Foundation for donations received in support of Glasgow City Mission’s evening drop-in service.”
Joy shared a story of one of their regular drop-in service guests, who said: “I started coming when I was 18, I’m now 35. I came out of desperation, I was homeless and didn’t have enough money to eat.
“This time around, I started coming because I was made redundant. I come here for food. You leave with a full stomach and the people and volunteers here really take the time to get to know you. Their support has given me the motivation to move forward in my life and set goals again. “
Joy added “Through this service, we connect with men and women who are often experiencing a very low point in their lives and over food, we can get to know them and find ways of supporting them.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of organisations such as Celtic FC Foundation. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all of your supporters who have contributed to the Christmas Appeal.”
Glasgow City Mission is among a host of organisations which will benefit from funds raised through this year’s Appeal, joining Loaves and Fishes, The Invisibles, Glasgow East Women’s Aid, St Roch’s FC Foundation, Elpis Centre, the Salvation Army Parkhead, St Anne’s Primary School, St Anne’s Church, the Cardinal Hume Centre, Simon Community Scotland, Spirit Aid, Glasgow Night Shelter, Women’s Aid Dublin, Women’s Aid Belfast and Lisburn, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Scottish Refugee Council, Glasgow’s No.1 Baby and Family Support Service, The Wayside Club and PEEK, as the Appeal beneficiaries announced so far.
Our Appeal aims to honour the founding principles set out when the club was formed back in 1887, by continuing to help those in our community, who are most in need. We want to help hundreds of local families facing poverty, by giving them the kind of Christmas most of us take for granted.
We also want to support pensioners on our doorstep and help out local charities. We can make a massive difference to the lives of children, the homeless, refugees and those living in refuge or facing other challenges.
To get behind the Christmas Appeal 2019, you can:
1. Donate by Text – text ‘CELTIC’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70085*
2. Donate Online
3. Donate via PayPal – www.CelticChristmasAppeal.com
4. Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores
5. Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE.
6. Provide support through your Christmas shopping via Give as you Live and Amazon Smile – http://www.celticfc.net/news/17086
7. Purchase the original song from this year’s Celtic Christmas advert, ‘Star Of Glasgow’s Green & White’ HERE. Proceeds will support our 2019 Appeal.
Thank you for your magnificent support.
*Texts will cost the donation amount, plus one standard rate message.
