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The Salvation Army in Clapton, north-east London, hosted a visit from First Lady Melania Trump Dec. 4, accompanied by Suzanne Johnson, the wife of the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Trump and Johnson helped Salvation Army volunteers and children from the nearby Baden Powell school wrap presents for The Salvation Army’s Christmas Present Appeal. The children then performed a festive song that they had chosen and the visitors listened to carols performed by a Salvation Army band.
The territorial leaders for The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, Commissioners Anthony and Gill Cotterill, greeted the visitors and talked about the work of The Salvation Army in Clapton.
“The visit was an opportunity to promote our Christmas Present Appeal where we ask people to buy an extra children’s gift this Christmas so we can donate it to a family in need,” said Anthony Cotterill. “I am very grateful to Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Johnson who personally donated gifts to our appeal. I was also proud to highlight Clapton Corps’ work with the local community.”
Majors Karl and Ruth Gray have run the Clapton Corps for 16 years, working hard to meet the needs of local people with everything from food parcels to after-school clubs.
As well as donating presents, the school children made Christmas wreaths to learn about the real meaning of Christmas.
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