There is little over three weeks left to join in the Standard’s Christmas Toy Appeal and make a difference this festive season.
The region’s longest running toy appeal aims to give hundreds of underprivileged children in the community a present to unwrap on December 25.
Without your support they wouldn’t receive any and we feel that every child, no matter what their financial circumstances, deserves to know the magic of a Christmas present.
We have until Wednesday, December 14 to receive donations and are appealing to our readers to give a Random Gift of Christmas.
A huge thank goes to all those who have already taken toys or sweet treats to one of our six collection points in Dumfries but we still need many, many more.
Anne Croucher, community champion at the Tesco Extra Supermarket at Cuckoo Bridge, has set up a collection point in store – just look for our appeal poster and pop a gift in.
A long-time supporter of the appeal, she is also going the extra mile again this year by holding a Christmas craft fair to raise money for the appeal.
It will be held on Sunday, December 4, from 9am to 1pm, under the big canopy at the store and the £5 from each stallholder and the proceeds from a hamper raffle will go the toy appeal.
Anyone who wants a stall should contact her via the Anne Croucher in the Community Facebook page, or in store.
The appeal was given an extra boost during the weekend by staff and customers at the Morrisons supermarket in Dumfries.
Store community champion Myra Smith has set up a collection box inside, with our toy appeal posters on it, for customers to donate a Christmas gift or sweet treat.
In addition, during the weekend she made up some “pick up packs” filled with sweets, gift sets and small toys – all at different prices – so that customers didn’t have to bother looking for toys for the appeal themselves.
They just had to pick up a ready-sorted bag, add it to their shopping trolley, and pay for it at the till.
Myra said: “I was thrilled that people liked the idea and bought them.
“Thank you to our customers who have nearly filled the box with the bags.”
It is easy to join in the appeal.
We are looking for gifts for babies to teenagers and whatever you can give will make a huge difference – but they need to be handed in by Wednesday, December 14.
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.
In keeping with health and safety measures, it is essential this year to make sure:
■ No second-hand toys
■ Toys must be new, unused and sealed, boxed or tagged
■ Please do not wrap toys in Christmas paper.
Helping couldn’t be easier.
We have six collection points where toys can be donated during opening hours across Dumfries.
All the collection points feature our posters – so look out for them.
Please leave your donated toys and chocolate in the collection boxes marked for the Dumfries and Galloway Standard’s Toy Appeal at Morrisons, Dumfries; Tesco, Cuckoo Bridge; Tesco, Peel Centre; and the Nationwide Building Society, Church Crescent.
Marks & Spencer on Dumfries’ High Street and The Crichton Trust at the Easterbrook Bistro Bar and Spar have Christmas trees with our distinctive red tags bearing the names and ages of kids who need a gift.
All you have to do is take off 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 and we’ll do the rest.
Our own office in Park Lane is 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 do 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 give 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.
