// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
Rising demand from families needing Christmas help
Charlotte Riley has been collecting and distributing Christmas gifts for families in need since 2024
The number of families asking for help to afford Christmas presents is rising, according to the organiser of a charitable cause.
For the past two years Charlotte Riley has collected and distributed donated gifts voluntarily as part of Christmas Kindness Appeal Jersey which she organises through Facebook. The gifts are given to families for children aged up to 18.
Riley said: "What we are seeing is that each year we're getting more and more numbers coming through."
She said the donated gifts helped to "take the pressure off" families in need of support.
Riley said when she first started the appeal in 2024 she "didn't expect the response from the community".
"I didn't quite know how many people that would be."
She said the reasons people might reach out to the appeal included unemployment, ill health and the general high cost of living.
Along with more demand, Riley said there were also increasing numbers of people offering to help.
"It wouldn't be done without those other people helping," she said.