The region’s longest running Christmas Toy Appeal will run for almost six weeks to help under-privileged children experience the magic of Christmas.
Times are tough with the cost of living crisis but more so for our children and young people, especially those disadvantaged by poverty.
On the back of two toy appeals run during the Covid pandemic with all its lockdowns and restrictions and spiralling applications for help, we are again facing an uphill challenge to fulfil the wish lists for children’s Christmas presents handed in by the agencies we support.
But we know our amazing readers will want to help again.
They know that all children deserve a Christmas gift to show that we care and, after the turmoil of the last few years, it is more important than ever to make sure they have a present to unwrap on Christmas morning.
Last year Dumfriesshire residents gave us phenomenal support for what proved to be the Standard’s biggest ever toy appeal, which resulted in more than 870 under-privileged children receiving Christmas gifts.
It would not have been possible without the generosity of the community with businesses, clubs, churches, schools and individuals all joining in to help desperate families in their communities.
Today we are appealing to you to help us make it happen this year. It will also be a chance to support local businesses by buying toys for the appeal from them.
We are looking for gifts for babies to teenagers in Dumfriesshire who have been referred to us by the fantastic agencies working with underprivileged families.
We are looking for any suitable toys for boys and girls; baby gifts; reading and colouring books; crayons/pencils/felt tips; board games, and sensory toys.
And we need donations of chocolate and sweets – from selection boxes to tubes and packets. Whatever you can give will make a huge difference – but they need to be handed in as soon as possible and no later than Wednesday, December 14.
In keeping with health and safety measures it is essential this year to make sure:
• No secondhand toys;
• Toys must be new, unused and sealed, boxed or tagged;
• Please do not wrap toys in Christmas paper.
We have six collection points where toys can be dropped off between today and Wednesday, December 14, and joining in our appeal couldn’t be easier.
We have donation points across Dumfries which all feature our posters.
Please leave your donated toys and chocolate in the collection boxes marked for the Dumfries and Galloway Standard Toy Appeal at Morrisons, Dumfries; Tesco, Cuckoo Bridge; Tesco, Peel Centre; and the Nationwide Building Society, Church Crescent. In addition, Marks and Spencer on Dumfries’ High Street (near the coffee shop) and The Crichton Trust at the Easterbrook Bistro Bar and Spar, both have Christmas trees bearing our distinctive red tags with the names and ages of kids who need a gift.
Please pick a tag and add it to an appropriate gift you’ve bought for the age and sex of the children – then leave it at the tree, which will have our appeal posters. Our own offices in Park Lane are closed, so please do not send cash or donations there.
Supporters may want to make a cash donation this year rather than have to shop for a toy and you can to this directly into our bank account at the Bank of Scotland in Dumfries either in branch or online using BACS.
You just need to know that the Standard Toy Appeal account number is 10856666 and the sort code is 80-22-60.
● We would like to hear, as soon as possible, from any organisations or businesses who want to make a cash or cheque donation, gift toys or 50 selection boxes.
If you can help please email: sharon.liptrott@reachplc.com or call 07917516142 to arrange collection and for us to organise a photograph.
