The Stirling Observer Give A Gift Appeal is set to return for its 14th year.
We are getting ready to publish details of how individuals, businesses, workplaces, schools and groups can contribute to this year’s effort.
Every year our big-hearted readers are always keen to respond.
Observer reporter Kaiya Marjoribanks said: “Even in the midst of the Covid pandemic, people pulled out all the stops to make sure children across the area didn’t go without at Christmas.
“But the cost of living crisis is presenting challenges for even more people than ever so we expect demand to be greater than ever before.
“Not being able to meet that demand is a very daunting prospect, but we will be doing our utmost.
“When families are struggling to both heat and eat, donating a toy may seem frivolous - but for the many parents who have been dealing with some very worrying scenarios, watching their child have nothing to open on Christmas morning will feel like the final straw.
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“If we can help remove at least that anxiety we must.”
Running since 2008, the appeal receives and distributes donations of toys and gifts for sick, disabled, needy and disadvantaged children and young people at Christmas.
The gifts are distributed via a wide range of charities, large and small, with the aim of ensuring no local child goes without on Christmas morning and children and families in need know their communities are thinking of them.
Among the charities and good causes which help to distribute the gifts are Stirling Council’s social services, Stirling Young Carers, Home-Start Stirling, PLUS, Cornton Vale and Glenochil Family Hubs, Stirling Women’s Aid, Forth Valley Royal Hospital’s children’s ward, Support4Families and various community groups.
- 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.
