A CAMPAIGN to donate Christmas gifts to people facing hardship in Furness has been launched.

The Salvation Army is calling on generous members of the public to show the festive spirit and give a present to somebody less fortunate than themselves.

The annual drive, which last year supported more than 400 families and individuals, is expanding its scope to include elderly people and lonely individuals.

Previously the appeal has focused on young people but this year the Salvation Army wants to reach more people they have identified as in need of help.

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The Salvation Army co-ordinates a multi-agency approach to supporting families and individuals who may not be looking forward to the festive season quite as expectantly as most people. said

Lt Martin Davison, leader of The Salvation Army in Barrow, said: "We want to share hope and joy with people who are often feeling desperate and overwhelmed with the pressure to find a way of enjoying the Christmas holidays.

"It is a wide ranging appeal because elderly people also are sometimes neglected and feel remote from a support network of friends.

"We try to link people up with appropriate Christmas themed events and so would also encourage folk to perhaps consider gifts for the older generation as well as for children and teenagers."

Working with a network of local authority health visitors, community groups and social and mental health professionals, the appeal will help people who can often find Christmas a daunting experience due to loneliness, isolation or debt.

How you can help

- Gifts can be brought to the foyer café reception of the Salvation Army in Abbey Road, Barrow, on Monday to Saturday.

- If more convenient, they can also be dropped off with staff at Nationwide Building Society in Dalton Road who are appeal partners, or the Evening Mail office.

- The Salvation Army will also be holding a community carol service at 3pm on Sunday December 18 which will be the final opportunity for people to bring gifts before the distribution begins on Monday December 19.

Five facts about the Salvation Army

1 - The Salvation Army was founded by William Booth in London in 1865 as he believed mainstream churches were too middle-class and unable to get Bible messages across to working-class people.

2 - There are approximately 54,000 members of the Salvation Army in the UK, including senior and junior soldiers.

3 - There are more than 800 church units across Britain.

4 - Music is an important feature of the Salvation Army and its first official band was established in 1879.

5 - The core principles of the Salvation Army are set out in its 11 articles of faith, including the belief that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.