Help us with the final push to reach our target of £15,000

It’s the penultimate week of Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens Appeal. The charity is raising funds to buy presents for underprivileged children living in Reading and the surrounding areas at Christmas time.  So far over £11,000 has been raised by generous donors, but the charity hope to reach their target of £15,000 in order to help as many children as possible this Christmas.
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MPs from Reading have kindly lent their support to the appeal. MP for Reading West Alok Sharma said:

“I am delighted to support the Toys and Teens Appeal again this year. The Appeal raises funds to buy Christmas presents for children in need in the local Reading area. Christmas is a time to remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves and I think it is testament to the excellent community spirit we have in Reading that, even in these incredibly difficult times, local people continue to be so generous.”

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​One of the Toys and Teens volunteers knows only too well how important an appeal like this can be.  

David* said “Growing up I had six siblings and my father was a chronic alcoholic.  We never had any money and were always desperate for food and clothes. We relied on the generosity of the local church and school. It was incredibly hard relying on other people. Kids at school took the mickey and you grew up real tough. But thanks to the generosity of appeals like this Christmas was great. We were given fruit and games as presents from the church, and I could go back to school and say I got something.  I knew kids that didn’t get anything for Christmas”. 

“In Reading today there is still true poverty, with families sleeping in one room with all of their children and single mums having to do desperate things to feed their kids.  Children can’t control their circumstances, which is why Reading Family Aid’s Christmas appeal tugs at my heartstrings more than anything else. I’ve been there and I hope people donate to help this cause”. 

The charity has set up a fundraising page and is asking you to donate money instead of gifts. The fundraising page will remain open until December 4 after which the funds will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to deprived children across Reading.

There will be no donation points this year and the charity is unable to accept any gifts to limit the spread of Covid-19.

As well as donating, the charity would be incredibly grateful if you considered holding a fundraising event.

You could organise a ‘mufti day’ at school or the office, a pyjama day for your ‘Zoom’ meetings, or share our crowdfunding page on your social media.
 
*Name changed to protect anonymity ​

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