THE Redditch Christmas Toy Appeal has got off to a fantastic start.
Kind-hearted residents are already digging deep to help bring a little festive joy to the children of families in the borough struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
The appeal is a joint operation run by the Revitalise Redditch group of local churches which together cover the Redditch Mission Area, and AOK, Acts of Kindness, the local charity behind Redditch Foodbank.
They have been joined by a host of volunteers to make sure the children of struggling families do not miss out this Christmas.
Elaine Whitfield, from Revitalise Redditch, said: “We helped with more than 500 children last year and there’s no question we are expecting more families in difficulty this year – you see hardship every day.”
And she emphasised that as usual this would not be a case of gifts just being given away,
“Every single family that comes to us will have been referred by an agency like the JobCentre, social services or the borough council,” she said.
The appeal is for new – not used – gifts for young people from newborn babies to 18 years old.
These can be dropped off at the visitor centre in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre, at St Stephen’s Church or at our Redditch Standard office in Church Green.
The Kingfisher CEntre has also offered a unit as the hub where the gifts can be collected, from December 9 to 16.
Neil Bishop from AOK said: “We’re very pleased to be working on this project and hope people will give generously to help those less fortunate than themselves.”
