Toys and Teens Appeal 2024
Last few days to donate - Last date is this Saturday December 7th.
Cllr Glen Dennis officially launched this year's Toys and Teens Appeal
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The Mayor said "I am so pleased to be launching the incredibly important Toys and Teens Appeal this year. The appeal supports children from really poor backgrounds whose families don’t have the means to provide them with a present at Christmas. The appeal steps in and fills that gap.” He added, “People aren’t going to advertise to you that they are really struggling. They have pride. But as a Councillor, I am in contact with families who are so poor, they won’t be able to afford any presents this Christmas. Please support the appeal by donating gifts at any of the donation points in Reading. Thank you.”
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What is the Toys and Teens Appeal?
The Toys and Teens Appeal has been running for over 60 years in various forms. This year once again we are asking people who live in Reading and district to donate toys and gifts for disadvantaged children living in the Reading area who otherwise would be unlikely to receive any Christmas presents.
One of last year's beneficiaries said "Christmas is a hard time for me. I dread it. I feel like I can't give my children what I want to give them and what they deserve. Most people look forward to Christmas, but for me, it’s a reminder of what my children miss out on.”
The Toys and Teens Appeal has been running for over 60 years in various forms. This year once again we are asking people who live in Reading and district to donate toys and gifts for disadvantaged children living in the Reading area who otherwise would be unlikely to receive any Christmas presents.
One of last year's beneficiaries said "Christmas is a hard time for me. I dread it. I feel like I can't give my children what I want to give them and what they deserve. Most people look forward to Christmas, but for me, it’s a reminder of what my children miss out on.”
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Watch Ruth Perkins, Fundraising Manager talking about the Appeal
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How does it work?
The children are all referred by social workers, other charities, schools and places of worship that work with the families on a day-to-day basis. Last year we provided toys and gifts to 2,500 of Reading’s disadvantaged children.
This year we hope to give each child at least four items - two main presents, one lesser gift and one book – the number of gifts depends on how much has been donated and sadly, initial figures indicate that there will be many more children in need this Christmas.
All the donations made at the numerous donation points around town will be collected and taken to a church hall during the week of December 8th where they will be checked, sorted, packed and distributed back to the requesting organisations for giving to the families. This way Santa will always be able to come to these children on Christmas morning.
Have a look at last year's blog page to see how it went.
The children are all referred by social workers, other charities, schools and places of worship that work with the families on a day-to-day basis. Last year we provided toys and gifts to 2,500 of Reading’s disadvantaged children.
This year we hope to give each child at least four items - two main presents, one lesser gift and one book – the number of gifts depends on how much has been donated and sadly, initial figures indicate that there will be many more children in need this Christmas.
All the donations made at the numerous donation points around town will be collected and taken to a church hall during the week of December 8th where they will be checked, sorted, packed and distributed back to the requesting organisations for giving to the families. This way Santa will always be able to come to these children on Christmas morning.
Have a look at last year's blog page to see how it went.
What should you donate?
We would like toys and gifts suitable for children aged 0 to 16 years. New toys and gifts are preferred but extremely good quality pre-used items are also welcome. Click here to check out our list of suggestions - please take note of the items that we cannot use.
Please think about donating items for the older children - last year about 1250 children were in the 10-16 age bracket. They feel the disappointment of getting little or nothing for Christmas as much as the younger ones, perhaps more so. Have a look at the list of gift ideas we have put together for all the age groups, but particularly the detailed lists for the older ones.
If you are donating ‘as good as new’ items, please make sure they are clean, complete and working. Ask yourself if you would be personally happy to give the item as it is, to a child.
And please put all the pieces of a toy or gift together in a bag – if everything is just tipped into a box or bag with all sorts of other things, we won’t know what goes with what!
Please do not wrap the gifts - we have to check every single item!
We would like toys and gifts suitable for children aged 0 to 16 years. New toys and gifts are preferred but extremely good quality pre-used items are also welcome. Click here to check out our list of suggestions - please take note of the items that we cannot use.
Please think about donating items for the older children - last year about 1250 children were in the 10-16 age bracket. They feel the disappointment of getting little or nothing for Christmas as much as the younger ones, perhaps more so. Have a look at the list of gift ideas we have put together for all the age groups, but particularly the detailed lists for the older ones.
If you are donating ‘as good as new’ items, please make sure they are clean, complete and working. Ask yourself if you would be personally happy to give the item as it is, to a child.
And please put all the pieces of a toy or gift together in a bag – if everything is just tipped into a box or bag with all sorts of other things, we won’t know what goes with what!
Please do not wrap the gifts - we have to check every single item!
How do you donate?
When you have your item or items ready, please take them to a Donation Point. Full details of the Donation Points and their opening hours can be found here.
Look out for this poster in the windows of the businesses, shops, community centres, schools, places of worship, libraries etc that are the donation points.
Note that the last date for donations is Saturday December 7th.
When you have your item or items ready, please take them to a Donation Point. Full details of the Donation Points and their opening hours can be found here.
Look out for this poster in the windows of the businesses, shops, community centres, schools, places of worship, libraries etc that are the donation points.
Note that the last date for donations is Saturday December 7th.
Staff at Roc Search with their gigantic box with all their donations in 2023.
Could you organise a collection?
If you would like to organise a collection at your work, school, college, place of worship, club or society then just go ahead and do so – you don’t need the OK from us!
Just note that the last day for donating is Saturday December 7th.
You can download a poster here.
Also, a one-page list of what we would like and also items we can’t use or look at all the detailed lists for each age group and ask people to donate items for one or two age groups - perhaps concentrate on the older children?
Please do not wrap the gifts - we have to check every single item!
You could also suggest that people look at and perhaps purchase items from our Amazon Gift List. If you buy from there the item will automatically find their way to us.
And if they are stuck for ideas or time then they can always make a donation at our GoFundMe site.
When you have completed your collection, please take all the items to a donation point or, if you have a large collection, perhaps you could bring it to the church hall on Dec 8,9 or 10 or perhaps we could collect it.
For deliveries, collections or any other questions just send us an email or give us a call on 079 300 33413 and we get it sorted.
If you would like to organise a collection at your work, school, college, place of worship, club or society then just go ahead and do so – you don’t need the OK from us!
Just note that the last day for donating is Saturday December 7th.
You can download a poster here.
Also, a one-page list of what we would like and also items we can’t use or look at all the detailed lists for each age group and ask people to donate items for one or two age groups - perhaps concentrate on the older children?
Please do not wrap the gifts - we have to check every single item!
You could also suggest that people look at and perhaps purchase items from our Amazon Gift List. If you buy from there the item will automatically find their way to us.
And if they are stuck for ideas or time then they can always make a donation at our GoFundMe site.
When you have completed your collection, please take all the items to a donation point or, if you have a large collection, perhaps you could bring it to the church hall on Dec 8,9 or 10 or perhaps we could collect it.
For deliveries, collections or any other questions just send us an email or give us a call on 079 300 33413 and we get it sorted.
Our Blog
Each week we will publish a story in the Chronicle about the appeal. You will also find these stories on our blog page.
These are the stories so far:
Toys and Teens 2024 is launched
Donate Joy: Toys and Gifts for Kids in Need
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors
Bring Joy This Christmas: Donate Toys and Books to Children in Need
Could you tell your children Santa isn’t coming this Christmas?
The Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Appeal: Last Chance to Share Christmas Joy with Local Families in Need
Each week we will publish a story in the Chronicle about the appeal. You will also find these stories on our blog page.
These are the stories so far:
Toys and Teens 2024 is launched
Donate Joy: Toys and Gifts for Kids in Need
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors
Bring Joy This Christmas: Donate Toys and Books to Children in Need
Could you tell your children Santa isn’t coming this Christmas?
The Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Appeal: Last Chance to Share Christmas Joy with Local Families in Need
Social Media
You can find us all over social media. Check out what’s going on and the latest news and please share with all your friends and colleagues.
You can find us all over social media. Check out what’s going on and the latest news and please share with all your friends and colleagues.
We had a fantastic year for Reading Family Aid's Toys and Teens Appeal last year. We provided nearly 700 sacks full of toys and presents for around 2500 children in Reading and the surrounding area. Read all about the 2023 Appeal in our blog.
Let's see if we can make 2024 even better, especially for the older children!
Let's see if we can make 2024 even better, especially for the older children!
Key Dates:
December 7th Last date for donations
December 8th - 13th Toy sorting, packing and distribution
December 7th Last date for donations
December 8th - 13th Toy sorting, packing and distribution
The Appeal is sponsored by the following organisations this year, to whom we are extremely grateful:
who give us a full page each week of the Appeal where you can read our stories and get a full list of the donation points
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who give us free use of several of their vans for the week so we can collect all the donations and deliver the packed sacks
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who give us a free room so that we can store the early donations
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who generously donate several thousands of pounds worth of toys and gifts each year.
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who have donated a large amount of money that we can use to buy toys, gifts and essential supplies to run the Project.
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who have donated a large amount of money that we can use to buy toys, gifts and essential supplies to run the Project.
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Reading Family Aid Group Registered Charity No. 1022144 Phone 07930 033413
