Santa has some new helpers this year in the form of a group of High Life Highland Young Leaders, who are helping spread some festive cheer.
Mission Christmas aims to ensure that every child in the Moray Firth Radio area receives gifts on Christmas morning with thousands of families reaching out for support.
High Life Highland leaders are spending Friday mornings at Mission Christmas HQ in the run up to the big day, filling sacks with presents. The group – made up of students from Nairn Academy, Inverness Royal Academy, Charleston Academy and Milburn Academy – are all part of the High Life Highland Leadership Programme, which sees young people volunteering in a number of different ways.
Elizabeth MacDonald, Leadership Programme Development Officer with High Life Highland said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for our Young Leaders to volunteer for Mission Christmas. We hear all about the charity on the radio and it’s not until you are actually here – seeing the numbers of families requesting support and the donations of gifts being delivered – that you fully appreciate how important it is to be involved.”
Rosie Walker is in S3 at Nairn Academy and has been a sports leader at her school for quite some time, clocking up over 250 volunteering hours and in receipt of the silver hoodie. She said: “Volunteering at Mission Christmas makes me feel so grateful that I have been fortunate enough to get presents on Christmas morning so it feels good to be able to give something back to the community.”
For Mission Christmas staff, having the Young Leaders volunteering is a massive help. Fiona Will, Mission Christmas Warehouse Manager commented: “Sadly there are families who continue to need our support so the contribution of our High Life Highland Young Leaders is invaluable – they are all working hard, helping us to ensure that children receive gifts this Christmas.”
For more information on how to support Mission Christmas please visit their website: MFR Cash for Kids | Children’s Charity Moray, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire | MFR
