# Samaritans DM appeal highlights needs for its services at Christmas

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/11/21/samaritans-dm-appeal-highlights-needs-its-services-christmas/
- Published: 2011-11-21T10:09:50+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/news/samaritans_2011_xmas_dm_pack.
gif)

Samaritans is sending its Christmas direct mail appeal to active supporters this
week, highlighting the importance of its service over the festive season, and asking
for cash donations.

The pack, devised by engagement marketing agency TDA, includes a letter from a volunteer,
emphasising how Christmas can be a difficult time for many people, as evidenced 
by the volume of calls the charity receives.

Supporters are thanked for previous donations and asked to consider making another
gift. They are also invited to send personal messages of support, either online 
or via a ‘Christmas bauble’ device. Messages will be displayed on Samaritans’ website
and on a Samaritans Christmas tree.

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Daniel McAllister, Direct Marketing Manager at Samaritans said: “Last Christmas 
we took 192,308 calls over the Christmas fortnight, Samaritans needs to be there
to answer every single call, not only over the Christmas period, but throughout 
the year.”

![Samaritans Christmas appeal bauble](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/graphics/christmas/
samaritans_2011_xmas_dm_pack2.jpg)

Andrea Lee, Account Director at TDA, explained why they focused on the role of the
volunteer. “Volunteers are an integral part of Samaritans,” she said. “They have
more than 18,750 volunteers across the UK and Ireland so we felt it was wholly appropriate
to place a volunteer’s story at the heart of the campaign.”

www.samaritans.org

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