The Salvation Army’s Fitton Hill centre will distribute emergency food parcels to struggling families this Christmas as Oldham’s cost-of-living crisis deepens.

The church and community centre on Fir Tree Precinct launches its holiday relief effort when schools break up, targeting households that lose access to free school meals during the two-week Christmas closure. Working through referrals from schools, GPs and social services, the organisation identifies families forced to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children.

“Christmas can be an expensive time for everyone, but for the people who have struggled all year with the agonising choice between heating and eating, Christmas brings extra financial pressure and many struggle to make ends meet, ending the year in turmoil and starting the new year in debt,” said Kim Rogers, community engagement co-ordinator at The Salvation Army in Fitton Hill. “The families who are in receipt of free school meals are the ones impacted the most when the schools close and two weeks is a long time to find extra money when budgets are already stretched.”

The centre accepts donations of pasta, rice, tinned meat, pasta sauce, tinned vegetables, soup, tea, coffee, sugar, juice and festive treats including mince pies and selection boxes until Friday, December 13. Financial contributions can be made through the organisation’s JustGiving page.

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