Rotherham’s Christmas Toy Appeal is running again this year, giving the neediest children and young people in Rotherham a gift to open on Christmas morning.
Over 2,100 children and young people benefitted from the appeal last year with the help from local businesses, churches, schools and members of the public. The organisers are very lucky to have the backing from Parkgate Shopping with the ‘giving trees’, The Advertiser and local radio station Rotherham Radio.
They believe this year will be harder than ever for families; not just families on benefits but the families that are working just to keep their heads above water. They all need everyone’s support. The cost of living, mortgages rising, heating our homes and just generally living has taken its toll on Rotherham families, so the organisers need your support more than ever.
The Christmas Toy Appeal receives requests from professionals working closely with the families so they can identify the most in need. The elves are not aware of whom the gifts are going to apart from the first name of the child / young person, their age and whether they’re male or female. The gifts are chosen by the elves and made special with addition of a book and soft toy.
The appeal is able to operate due to dedicated volunteer elves that work extremely hard to ensure all the requests are ready for collection on time so they can be delivered to the families on time.
There are various ways you can help with the appeal:
- Pick a tag off a Christmas tree at Parkgate Shopping, purchase a gift and hand it into any shop on Parkgate Shopping. These are collected by the elves on a regular basis.
- Hand a gift into your local library who are again collecting for the appeal.
- Contact Ann on 07568 396113 or email ann.familiesfirst@gmail.com to get further information or on ways of getting involved.
What a lovely feeling waking up on Christmas morning knowing you have helped a Rotherham child / young person feel special. Thank you.