Not every family can afford to pay for toys and gifts for their children at Christmas time and it can result in a huge amount of additional pressure for everyone.
Fortunately, schemes are operating like the Christmas Toy Appeal, run by Warrington Council’s Neighbourhoods team. This scheme has run since 2012 and aims to help families who are struggling to pay for presents for their children. All of the families referred have been put forward by health and wellbeing partners across the borough.
Any gifts will be accepted for children up to 16 years old, but ideally, the donations would be for new toys, gift vouchers, books and not forgetting sweets and chocolates!
Lisa Dennett, customer service advisor here at Warrington Housing Association has been behind our organisation getting involved with this by asking her colleagues to contribute by donating toys. The callout to dig deep was answered and the pile of toys grew over the month. Fortunately, Lisa was able to recruit an ‘elf helper’ – Rachel Flexen (pictured) – who dropped off the toy haul at Orford Community Hub ready to be distributed to the children via Father Christmas on Christmas Day!
Lisa said: “It’s fantastic that local people donate to this very worthy scheme as families shouldn’t have to struggle at any time of the year but especially at Christmas. Hopefully, we can help to make sure that every Warrington child will have a present to open on Christmas Day.”
For more information about the toy appeal, email: ChristmasToyAppeal@warrington.gov.uk or call 07775 024840.
