THE Journal is urging its generous readers to spread some Christmas cheer throughout the city by donating gifts for this year’s present appeal.

All it takes is for readers to choose an extra gift when doing their Christmas shopping, wrap it and attach a label saying if it is for a girl, boy, man or woman and giving a rough age of the person it is meant for. Feel free to attach a greetings card.

For the past 25 years, the Journal has gathered gifts from kind-hearted readers and given them to charities to redistribute among those who would otherwise go without.

Many charities and organisations have handed out the presents in the past, including Salisbury Trust for the Homeless, the women’s refuge, Alabaré Christian Care and Morning Star, a charity that provides food and support for homeless people.

Other presents are distributed at Christmas lunches for the elderly and infirm, vulnerable people in supported living and the children’s unit at Salisbury District Hospital.

Journal publisher Bill Browne said: “We ask you all to think of gifts for all ages so that we can bring a little joy to those who usually miss out at this time of the year.”

You can bring wrapped gifts, for a girl, boy, man or woman to the Journal office in Rollestone Street and they will be collected by the charities just before Christmas so that they can be handed out before the big day.