Treat our Troops - What you can do

Published on Monday 30 November 2009 08:54

THE Evening News is issuing a rallying call inviting readers to help us Treat our Troops – and their Kids – this Christmas.

As most of us are setting about our festive shopping, the prospects facing hundreds of city soldiers and their families are very different.

For troops from the Royal Scots Borderers (1 Scots) – formerly the Royal Scots – the festive season will be spent in Forward Operating Base Wishtan, in the remote north-west of Afghanistan.

Their colleagues from the 3rd Battalion the Rifles (3 Rifles), based at Edinburgh's Redford Barracks, will be spending Christmas in Helmand, amid one of the bloodiest wars that the British army has fought in recent times.

More than 200 city youngsters are facing Christmas without their father, while their mothers are left at home alone to cope, dreading what news the next bulletin from the front line might bring.

Our Treat our Troops – and their Kids appeal, run in conjunction with the Parcels4Troops charity, aims to bring some festive cheer to all our soldiers and their families.

How you can help

1. Donate items for the troops in Afghanistan

Wine gums, crisps, pot noodles, tabasco or sweet chilli sauce, liquid travel wash, (use by dates must be end of February at the earliest to allow for any potential delivery delays).

2. Donate a stocking filler for the families' Christmas parties

Selection boxes, small new toys, especially for pre-school children.

All can be handed in at collection points in the following locations:

l Ocean Terminal

l St James Centre

l The Southsider, West Richmond Street

l Bert's Bar, William Street

l Evening News offices, 108 Holyrood Road.

l Lothian Buses travel shops at Waverley Bridge, Hanover Street, Shandwick Place and Dalkeith's Jarnac Court.

3. Make a cash donation

Donations will be used to provide other home comforts requested by the troops or go to services charities. Cheques made payable to Parcels4Troops can be sent to Treat our Troops, Evening News, 108 Holyrood Road, EH8 8AS.

4. Can you offer any practical help?

Do you run a business which could donate goods to the troops or help bring some Christmas cheer to their families? Could you provide entertainment and treats for the Christmas parties? If you can help in any way, please call Catherine Salmond on 0131-620 8731 or e-mail [e-mail].

Roll of Honour

The 1 Scots, 3 Rifles, Parcels4Troops and the Evening News would like to thank the following backers for their support

&#149 Hearts FC

&#149 Hibs FC

&#149 Lothian Buses

&#149 St James Centre

&#149 Ocean Terminal

&#149 McLay Inns (including the Southsider, West Richmond Street, and Bert's Bar, William Street)

&#149 Rutland Hotel, Rutland Street

&#149 Suruchi restaurant, Constitution Street, Leith

&#149 Danderhall Miners Welfare Club

&#149 BiG Advert Signs Ltd

&#149 Marion and William Welsh of Longniddry

&#149 Sinbad and the Little Mermaid pantomime, at the Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh

&#149 The Premium Roll Company

&#149 The Royal British Legion, Winchburgh, Niddry & District branch

&#149 Greggs

&#149 The hundreds of you who have donated gifts or money to make Christmas happier for the troops and their families.