The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
This huge display of toys is just a fraction of the immense total donated for this year’s biggest and best ever Give A Gift campaign for underprivileged children.
Hundreds of donated gifts are now on their way to families in and around Spalding who may otherwise have had nothing on Christmas Day.
A single mum of a boy (six) and girl (four), nominated for a donation who was fearing how she would cope with Christmas this year, is now looking forward to a delivery.
She said: “It will mean so much to me.
“I have recently had to move and haven’t been able to afford a carpet for the hallway and stairs yet and toys are so expensive.
“We will be so grateful.”
Harry Drury, director of We’ll Let Your House, which runs the campaign in partnership with The Voice and others, said: “I would firstly like to thank all of our partners who worked with us again this year to make our fourth year the best year so far.
“Not only did the quantity of donations increase but the quality of the toys did also. Christmas is about giving and celebrating.
“Finally, I would like to thank the real heroes in this campaign, the general public and businesses who donated gifts and money.
“Without them and our partners, we would not have been able to do what we have done.”
Continuous supporters of the appeal, staff at Spalding based fruit firm Karsten raised £250, matched by a further £250 donation from the firm to buy additional gifts.
Emma Reeson, of Karsten, said: “It’s important to us and our staff to support the local community and I think we feel you never know if you might be in that position yourself one day.”
Piles of cuddly toys also came in for the Donate A Cuddle appeal – part of Ella’s Project, which collects and redistributes clothes for children aged up to five.
The appeal asked for clean pre-loved toys and in addition to piles of those, a huge amount of new, labelled soft toys also came in.
Tracey Sweetland, production editor at The Voice, said: “It’s extremely moving to see the absolute generosity of those who have donated and wonderful to think of the happiness it will bring.
“It just goes to show, there are a lot of good people in the world.”
