CAN YOU SPARE A GIFT FOR A DISADVANTAGED CHILD THIS CHRISTMAS?

Reading Family Aid’s Toys & Teens appeal is back for another year, sponsored by The Chronicle. This year the appeal is accepting new and nearly new toys at 34 donation points across Reading and the surrounding areas. These toys and gifts will be distributed to disadvantaged children in Reading and the surrounding area, ready to be opened on Christmas day. 

Ruth Perkins, Fundraising Manager for the charity said: “There are more and more families finding themselves in difficulties, families that prior to the cost of living going up so dramatically were manging just about and are now finding they can’t manage. There are many families every week becoming homeless being put up in B and Bs or hotels. It’s astonishing in a town like Reading which seems on the face of it quite an affluent place. In these families the kids go to school, they talk to their friends about what they hope to get for Christmas. These kids without all of the people that support us, they wouldn’t get anything. And that’s really tough to go back to school after the Christmas holidays and say I didn’t get anything for Christmas”.

---

The appeal could not happen without the support of countless local companies, whose staff go out of their way to help disadvantaged children enjoy Christmas. One such company is Roc Search, who have been supporting the appeal for an incredible seven years! Trevor Doran, Chief Growth Officer said:
 “Our partnership with Reading Family Aid over the last 7 years is something we are all incredibly proud of here at Roc Search – which is why we are once again supporting their efforts this year. Witnessing the profound impact their Toys & Teens Appeal has on countless disadvantaged children and families in the local community is truly inspiring. By supporting them in their efforts to collect these toys and donations, we are helping to create cherished Christmas memories for those in need. It’s an honour to be a part of. As a business we’ve been able to collect thousands of toys over the years thanks to the generosity of our employees, clients and friends. We encourage as many people as possible to get involved and help make this holiday season brighter for all!”​

---

The appeal has not yet reached its target for toy donations, and the charity is appealing to supporters and the public to please help this Christmas. Anything gift you give will make a huge difference to the happiness of a child this year.

The Toys and Teens Appeal 2023 is collecting new and nearly new toys from donation drop off points, as well as using funds from the Go Fund Me online to buy gifts for children to open on Christmas day.
 
To support the campaign you can donate a gift to the drop off points below - click here for more details on what can be donated.
If you cannot donate a gift the campaign also has an online GoFundMe page to help buy new presents for age groups that receive less donations each year:

Thank you