Mission Christmas to distribute presents to children in MFR area gets helping from young Highland leaders
Pupils from four schools in Inverness and Nairn are helping to spread festive cheer by volunteering their services for a special mission.
A group of High Life Highland Young Leaders are helping with Mission Christmas which aims to ensure every child in the Moray Firth Radio area receives gifts on Christmas morning.
The volunteers - made up of students from Nairn Academy, Inverness Royal Academy, Charleston Academy and Milburn Academy - are spending Friday mornings at Mission Christmas headquarters in the run up to the big day, filling sacks with presents.
• MFR launches annual Mission Christmas appeal for Highlands
The group members 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 Mission Christmas was a fantastic opportunity for the young Leaders to volunteer.
“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,” she said.
Rosie Walker, an S3 pupil at Nairn Academy, has been a sports leader at her school for some time, clocking up over 250 volunteering hours and receiving a silver hoodie.
“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,” she said.
For Mission Christmas staff, having the Young Leaders volunteering is a massive help.
Fiona Will, Mission Christmas warehouse manager said: “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, visit MFR Cash for Kids.
