Last week to donate gifts to this year's Toys & Teens Appeal

It’s the FINAL week of Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens Appeal! For seven weeks the charity has been raising funds to buy presents for underprivileged children living in Reading and the surrounding areas at Christmas time.  So far over £14,500 has been raised by generous donors and the charity hope to reach their target of £15,000.  The money will be used to buy gifts for 1,200 children this Christmas.

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​The community has been showing its support, with groups like Reading Matins Rotary Club, schools and nurseries and companies including Asda, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, The Fence Club, Roc Search and Collaborate + Create and Logicalis organising collections.

Elaine Kelly said “Logicalis are proud to have supported Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens appeal for the last 6 years. They do incredible work and really make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children in our community”. 
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First Days is an organisation that distributes the toys purchased as part of Reading Family Aid’s fundraiser.  Their CEO, Emma Cantrall highlighted the importance of this appeal saying “It’s heartbreaking to think that parents already know that basics like gifts for their children are unaffordable”. First Days has had hundreds of requests for Christmas stockings and gifts and is expecting many more.  

Sallie Wall, a volunteer at Reading Family Aid, has first hand experience of the effect the campaign can have. She said: “We were clearing up after Christmas and we got a call from a social worker saying 'I have a family who have just moved into a council house and have nothing, can you help?” "We went round there right away with some presents. The woman was in tears. It was a good feeling."

Reading Family Aid are extremely grateful for all of your generous donations.  The fundraiser closes on 4th December so there is still time to donate if you haven’t already done so. Once the fundraiser closes, the money will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to deprived children across Reading.

We would also like to thank our sponsors: The Reading Chronicle, Berkshire Freemasons, Big Yellow and Caversham Vehicle Hire.

Thank you.

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