Local charity Befriend a Child is delighted to announce that its annual Giving Tree Appeal for Christmas 2024 has been the most successful to date, with an unprecedented number of gifts donated and over 110 Giving Tree Partners across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire involved.
The campaign, which runs throughout November and December, ensures that children supported by the charity and their siblings have a magical Christmas with presents to open on Christmas morning and new experiences to look forward to in the year ahead.
Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the Aberdeen community, Befriend a Child distributed Christmas gifts, the highest number ever, to more than 200 children and their siblings. The charity was deeply touched by the incredible response from both individuals and corporate donors, who collectively made this the most impactful Giving Tree Appeal yet.
In addition to the thousands of gifts donated, the charity received £15,737 towards experiences for children and their volunteer befrienders and mentors to enjoy throughout 2025.
Befriender Denise with her Befriendee Bethany
This year’s success was made possible by over 100 Giving Tree Partners, who displayed Giving Tree tags in their offices, businesses and shops. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the partners and individuals who championed the appeal, helping spread the spirit of giving throughout the North East.
Sarah Misra, CEO at Befriend a Child, expressed her gratitude: “We are in awe of the generosity shown by our local community. The support we have received this year has been truly overwhelming. We were mindful of the ongoing cost-of-living challenges when we launched the appeal, and yet the kindness of individuals and businesses has been extraordinary. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to XIC for providing all 3,600 Giving Tree tags, which made such a significant impact on the success of the campaign.”
The large Christmas gift bags included cosy items to keep the children warm, toiletries, festive treats, educational games, toys, and much more. Each present is carefully selected to bring joy and comfort during what can be a difficult time of year for many families supported by the charity.
For many of the families the charity supports, Christmas can be an incredibly challenging period, with parents and carers often struggling to provide gifts due to the need to prioritise essentials like heating and food. The Giving Tree Appeal helps to alleviate that and ensures that children have a memorable and joyful festive season.
Sarah continued: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported the appeal this year. Whether you displayed our Giving Tree tags, purchased gifts, donated money, or shared the appeal online, you have made a real difference. Thanks to your kindness, the children we support had a magical Christmas and can look forward to a fun-filled year ahead. Your generosity is truly appreciated.”