Posted on: 14th November 2024

Leeds City Mission was founded in 1837 and it one of the oldest Christian charities in Leeds.

This Christmas Leeds City Mission is selling ‘Real Advent Calendars’. The calendars are unique – the chocolate is all Fairtrade.  It contains a 24-page Christmas bible story activity booklet. A donation from every sale is made to the Funzi and Bodo Trust.  Funzi and Bodo Trust is also a small Leeds-based charity works in two isolated mud hut villages in Kenya called Funzi and Bodo. They help provide medical and maternity care though their clinics for babies and their mothers in extreme poverty. 

Real Advent Calendars make excellent gifts and are a valuable outreach tool.  Each day children can connect with an aspect of the nativity story as they open the calendar windows.  The nativity booklet is well illustrated ensuring children can read and appreciate the full bible story about how Jesus was born and the events of the first Christmas.

The City Mission have obtained a quantity of Real Advent Calendars and are offering these at the discount price of £4.00 each plus ten free seasonal gift tags with every calendar bought.  They normally retail at £5.50 each.  They are produced by the Meaningful Chocolate Company who also market the Real Easter Egg.

City Mission Coordinator Andy Dalton said that this Christmas initiative was not about making money but all about putting a helpful resource into the hands of people who want to reach out to family, friends and neighbours this Christmas.  So many Advent Calendars make no reference at all to the reason for season. The Real Advent Calendar is an ethical, seasonal gift that combines advent awareness, a faithful recounting of the bible story and an opportunity to help a developmental charity overseas. 

Leeds City Mission Hub is located in Mistress Lane, Armley, Leeds, LS12 2LJ and includes a Christian book & card booth, charity shop and a foodbank.  It is open 10.00 am – 3.00 pm Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, Fridays (not Wednesdays).  Visitors are welcome to call in and collect a Real Advent Calendar.  There is ample free on-street parking.  Telephone enquiries on 0113 345 3118.  Mistress Lane adjoins Town Street – the shopping parade for the Armley area.

Leeds City Mission have also gathered a range of donated seasonal items in good condition – all of which will make excellent Christmas presents for those with limited cash to spend. Children’s toys and games, artificial Christmas trees, Santa costumes and seasonal gifts for adults are just some of the items.  These are also on display

Andy Dalton from Leeds City Mission said that it was particularly seeking to develop it’s Christian Book & Card Booth at their Hub to serve churches throughout the City.  Apart from the City Mission’s Christian Book & Card Booth - there is now no physical retail outlet for Christian literature in the whole of Leeds and Bradford (combined total of 1.2 million).  It has a limited range of new bibles and books plus a second hand Christian book section

Leeds City Mission is a multi-church Christian agency which has worked with marginalised people since 1837 seeking to bring gospel hope and practical help to people throughout the City.