By Andy Dalton

Volunteers from a West Leeds charity are taking a well-earned rest after their efforts in the run up to Christmas Day to collect, sort and pack presents for struggling families and their children.

Their efforts meant that more than 100 children from families under pressure received a surprise present on Christmas morning.

In the first three weeks of December volunteers and staff at Leeds City Mission in Armley sourced and packed donated presents at their premises in Mistress Lane. 

Generous donations of presents came from kind-hearted businesses, individuals, churches and other organisations. They rallied by donating a comprehensive range of presents for children across a wide age range.

Leeds City Mission in Mistress Lane, Armley. Photo: Andy Dalton

Based at the Compassion Centre at its Mission Room premises this City Mission seasonal project concluded a busy year of initiatives and projects. These have brought much needed help to people out of work, homeless and those on low incomes. 

Reka Hermann, who originates from Hungary, was one of a volunteer team who helped with the project. The team were able to sort, categorise and organise the donated presents which other volunteers delivered to needy families before Christmas Day.

A spokesman for the City Mission thanked everyone who had brought this Christmas Present project to such a successful conclusion. The number of presents received increased by 12% compared to last year.  

The spokesman said that this was a great encouragement given the huge budget pressures both businesses and individuals have experienced in 2025.  

“Children from poor families were able to wake up on Christmas morning  with a present suitable for their age and interests,” he said.

Leeds City Mission is a multi-church Christian agency working with marginalised people and seeks to meet the physical, social and spiritual needs of Leeds residents.  

The Christmas Gift Project is just one of the social initiatives organised by the City Mission in its vital and ongoing work in West Leeds

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