Appeal for Neighbour's Giving Tree to find a home at Christmas

A North-east charity is urgently appealing to local business' in Aberdeen city centre to help it continue to supply one of its most vital, and successful appeals to date.
Giving Tree appeal launched in Aberdeen. Picture: ContributedGiving Tree appeal launched in Aberdeen. Picture: Contributed
Giving Tree appeal launched in Aberdeen. Picture: Contributed

Instant Neighbour, which offers support to vulnerable people across the region, is calling on the help of local business’ to find a new premises for one month to run it’s Giving Tree appeal from.

The charity, which was established in 1984 and has been running the Giving Tree appeal for 25 years, sponsored throughout by Chevron, gifted over 6,000 presents to children across the North-east last Christmas.

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The Giving Tree appeal gives members of the public the opportunity to donate gifts for children who would otherwise receive nothing at Christmas.

The city centre premises would be required for approximately four working weeks (21 November – 16 December) and would ideally need to be located in the city to run the appeal from.

Volunteers, who play a vital role in assisting with the sorting of gifts, need to be able to get to the Giving Tree’s new premises safely, so a city centre location is necessary.

Vehicle access is also vital to this operation, as Instant Neighbour vans are required to collect and distribute gifts to children across the region.

Chief executive Sophy Green said: “The Giving Tree is a hugely successful appeal but heavily relies on the support from the public and companies across the city.

“We are desperately seeking suitable premises from which we can run and operate the Giving Tree appeal this year. We have been running the appeal for 25 years now, but really need the support of local business’ to help us find premises where we, and our volunteers, can operate the appeal from for approximately one month.

“We have Luton type vans plus a transit van which all play a vital role in delivering presents to Children across the region over festive period. We are calling on anyone who can help us find premises.

“The Giving Tree appeal helps bring Christmas cheer to thousands of families and children across the North-east, we are determined to ensure we can deliver a happy Christmas to them all.”

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Business’, schools, universities, and other organisations across the North-east receive tags from Instant Neighbour, which the charity has provided the first name, gender, and age of a child. These individuals can then purchase a present for the child and drop it off at any Giving Tree pop-up location or Instant Neighbour itself.

By working with social work departments, community projects, and other similar organisations across Aberdeen City and Shire, Instant Neighbour can identify children who would otherwise go without a present, ensuring they receive a Christmas present.

Instant Neighbour collects all of the donated gifts, arranges for them to be sorted and boxed, and then returns them to partner organisations in time for Christmas parties and other events at which the gifts will be given out to the children receiving gifts.

Instant Neighbour’s Giving Tree is sponsored by Chevron.