GENEROUS hoteliers in Dorchester made a donation in support of the Dorset Echo s Christmas Toy Appeal. Demelza and Tom Stevens of Westwood House Guest House on High West Street supported the appeal with a £100 cheque - every penny of which will go towards helping the county s poorest children have a happy Christmas. Funds raised by the Dorset Echo Christmas Toy Appeal are used to buy presents for families who would otherwise not be able to afford them. Presents are now being distributed by social workers, who play an important role in the appeal by making sure the gifts go to those in need.
More than 250 gifts have been donated by a group of kind-hearted bikers, who swapped two wheels for four in order to bring the presents to the appeal s warehouse this year.
The usual toy run between High Beach and Canning Town had to be scrapped due to coronavirus restrictions - but the bikers still arranged a collection of gifts which were then brought over in cars.
John Pryke, the run s organiser said: We had to make sure that we found a way to collect and get the gifts to the children in this the most difficult of all years for everyone.
Around 90 families in west Wicklow will enjoy an extra special Christmas, thanks to the generosity of the community.
A phenomenal response to the Blessington and District Forum s Christmas Toy Appeal means gifts and vouchers will be delivered to local families in need of help at this time of year in Blessington, Dunlavin, Ballymore Eustace, Glen of Imaal and Baltinglass. Gifts have also been donated to the two local women s refuges.
The toy appeal took place with the aim of helping local families in Blessington and the surrounding areas who may need a little bit of help due to Covid-19. It replaced the forum s annual shoebox appeal, which could not go ahead due to the pandemic.
Weymouth and Portland Lions Club has made a generous donation to the Dorset Echo Christmas Toy Appeal Picture: Weymouth and Portland Lions Club A CLUB that raises money for worthy causes has made a generous donation to the 21st Dorset Echo Christmas Toy Appeal. Weymouth and Portland Lions Club has donated a huge £210 to our annual toy appeal - £10 for each year that we have been running the initiative. The charitable organisation has been donating to our appeal for more than 10 years and members were thrilled to be able to give their biggest ever donation in a year which has been difficult for so many local families.
Peter and Mark McCabe from AGS Doors and Shutters with the donation of hampers.
- Credit: Kevin Jenkins
There is just over a week until Christmas - meaning there are just days left to ensure that underprivileged youngsters across Newham will have something to open on Christmas morning.
Donations are continuing to come in for this year s Christmas Toy Appeal, although further gifts are still needed if organisers are to hit the target in a year that has seen more young people than ever referred to it.
AGS Doors and Shutters have donated 50 food hampers, which will be given to families of some of the children helped by the appeal who are living in poverty.