Plymouth City Market is joining forces with Support Our Soldiers (SOS) to send Christmas parcels to members of the British armed forces serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and other overseas operations.

SOS has sent Christmas parcels to out troops every year since 2003 and nearly 12,000 packages were despatched last year thanks to the generosity of well-wishing individuals and companies.

Plymouth City Market will be acting as Santa Claus and teaming up with SOS, the local community and local schools to get presents to the servicemen and women that won’t be home for Christmas.

This year’s appeal will be launched at the market on Wednesday 29 September 2010 and people can drop off donated parcels or parcel fillers at the market office until Friday 26 November 2010. You can send various things such as sweets, snacks, books, magazines, games, toiletries or clothing – a full list of items requested by the soldiers, as well as those prohibited by the MOD, can be found on the Plymouth City Market website.

Plymouth City Market manager Matt Jones, said: We at the City Market do all we can to support Britain’s armed forces and their families especially as Plymouth has such a large military-based community. It is an honour to play a part in the fantastic work that SOS do.”

Council Leader Vivien Pengelly, added: "The military community is such an important part of Plymouth’s culture and it is great to see the City Market using its Christmas festivities to do something for such a worthwhile cause.”

Plymouth City Council, 28 September 2010