Today, we launch our 15th annual Stirling Observer Give A Gift Appeal - and never have local children and young people needed your support more.
Over the years, our generous readers have donated thousands of toys and gifts for deserving youngsters across the area through the appeal.
This year , we know that many of you who usually donate may well be feeling the pressure yourselves amid the cost of living crisis.
And with charities and good causes desperately trying to help growing numbers of families in need to feed, clothe and keep their children warm this winter, we appreciate that toys may not seem like a necessity in such circumstances.
The fact is, however, that this year the children in our communities need and deserve something special more than ever.
Stirling Observer reporter Kaiya Marjoribanks said: “Those of you who are able to donate, we simply ask that you put yourselves in the shoes of those parents who are already struggling against all the odds to make ends meet.
“The thought of having to tell your child that Santa hasn’t come to them this year is that devastating final straw.
“For those children old enough to understand the pressures their parents are under, many of them will see friends, classmates and neighbours enjoying a seemingly carefree festive season.
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“Some of them will even lie about receiving gifts to ‘fit in’.
“Christmas can be the most special time of the year - but we all have to remember that it can also be the most isolating and polarising.
“How many parents tell their children ‘you have to be good, or Santa won’t come’, or have put that ‘elf’ on the shelf?
“But that kind of magic is not going to work even for some of the best behaved children.
“That’s why we are asking our readers - those who can afford to - to help make that magic happen for some of the most deserving children and young people in our communities.
“A gift donated to the appeal isn’t just a parcel to open on Christmas morning.
“It’s a sign to families and to children that their communities care about them and appreciate their struggles.”
Running since 2008, the appeal receives and distributes donations of new toys and gifts for sick, disabled, needy and disadvantaged children and young people aged from newborn babies right up to teenagers.
Collected with the kind support of a host of drop-off points across the area, the gifts are distributed via a wide range of charities, large and small.
Among the many charities and good causes which help to distribute the gifts every year are: Stirling Young Carers; Home-Start Stirling which supports families with young children going through difficult times; Stirling Women’s Aid; Stirling Council social services; PLUS, which provides social opportunities for children and young people with disabilities; Cornton Vale and Glenochil Family Support Hubs; FVRH children’s ward; and Support4Families, which helps families affected by a loved one’s drug or alcohol misuse.
In recent years groups and foodbanks set up by local volunteers in the Observer circulation area including CRAG (Cowie), Ladies of the Rock, Polmaise Community Council, and Love in a Box, have also been able to receive toys from the appeal for children and families they support, and other one off requests have been fulfilled.
If you would like to organise a collection of gifts at your workplace, school or group, would like to be one of our official drop-off points, or would simply like more information, contact the Observer by phone on (01786) 451110 or email: news@stirlingobserver.co.uk or kaiya.marjoribanks@reachplc.com.
We will aim to photograph and feature as many collections as possible in the Observer in the run-up to Christmas.
Drop-off points include: STIRLING – Morrisons supermarket, Springkerse Retail Park; Barber Co, 20 Upper Craigs FK8 2DG; Nationwide Building Society, Port Street; Waitrose, Burghmuir Retail Park FK7 7NZ; Stirling Albion, Forthbank Stadium FK7 7UJ; BALFRON Andrew Anderson & Sons, 64B Buchanan Street G63 0TW; BANNOCKBURN – Jintz Express/Post Office, 17 Quakerfield; CALLANDER - Tesco Express, Main Street; DUNBLANE – Beech Tree Cafe, 2 Beech Road; FALLIN - Tesco Express, Stirling Rd FK7 7JW; RAPLOCH - Andrew Anderson & Sons 90 Drip Road FK8 1RN.
- Toys and gifts – Gifts should be new and unused and left unwrapped to allow charities to choose for individual children. Cuddly toys should be kept to a minimum if possible as some charities have difficulty placing these for health and hygiene reasons.
- Vouchers – Since the Covid pandemic, we have also given the option of donating gift cards and vouchers to offer some flexibility to both those donating and to the charities. Please mail vouchers and cards, marked Stirling Observer Give a Gift Appeal, c/o Kaiya Marjoribanks, Mailroom, One Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 8DA. Please include details of the value of the gift card or voucher. If you would like a confirmation of receipt, provide your name and postal address or email address.
- Drop-off points (see above) - The Observer office is closed for the time being and not one of the drop-off points, however, we are grateful to the other drop -off points accepting items.
