Trafford Domestic Abuse Service appeals to Salford shoppers for Christmas gifts

Trafford Domestic Abuse Service has launched its campaign against gender-based violence and have asked Salford shoppers to donate Christmas presents for women and children in need.

Tuesday 27^th of November saw global #GivingTuesday where members of the public were encouraged to donate and give to charities in their local area.

The Trafford Domestic Abuse Service (TDAS) was in the Trafford Centre collecting gifts.

Samantha Fisher, CEO of TDAS, said: “It’s an important for those in the local community to give back at Christmas. It’s good to see shoppers just making a special trips to donate to our women and children.”

It’s #GivingTuesday2018

We are all set up and ready for our Christmas Appeal @intuTrafford outside Vodafone!!

Can you spare an extra gift to help our families who are homeless due to DA

Come down and say hello, get involved with the Christmas activities!!! #breakfree pic.twitter.com/P9MGeSt85h

— TDAS (@tweet_tdas) November 27, 2018

As one of Trafford Centre’s chosen charities, TDAS was stationed all day in the centre, armed with gift boxes for shoppers to drop their presents in.

Two tables were also set up with card templates where givers were asked to make a Christmas card for the women and children who have been made homeless by domestic abuse in the Greater Manchester area.

“We’re quite a small charity so don’t get much publicity, but to see so many people from the local area donate is so nice. It’s so good at this time of year as many people don’t have families to celebrate with,” said Ms Fisher.

Christmas Card Station. Photo by Samantha Fisher

Millies Cookie Donation. Photo by Samantha Fisher

As the collection continued throughout the day, the giant gift boxes began to fill up.

All boxes were took away to give to families all over the Trafford and Salford area.

The gifts included clothing, toys and toiletries that will be shared out across all of Greater Manchester.

Salford shoppers have been asked to continue donating for the next 2 weeks for ’16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’ which runs till December 10th, International Human Rights Day.

The group is also offering a free domestic abuse awareness training session for volunteers on December 3, to increase participants’ ability to offer support to victims.