AS Christmas approaches, the annual Tameside Toy Appeal is back to help bring some festive cheer to children across the borough.
Recent research lays bare that more than a third of children in communities throughout Tameside are living in poverty, during these times of immense hardship amid the cost-of-living crisis.
With ‘heat or eat’ the real choice for many households this winter, Christmas simply isn’t affordable.
So, every gift donated to the appeal will be given to a child in the borough whose family is experiencing poverty to ensure that disadvantaged children will wake up to a present to open on Christmas Day.
Between now and Friday, December 15, donations of new and unused toys and gifts for children aged up to 18 years old will be gratefully received.
There are dedicated drop-off locations across Tameside for donations, which can also be made to any Tameside library or family hub. Council staff are also collecting for the appeal.
Alternatively, people can make a monetary donation via this JustGiving page up to December 18 and the funds raised will be used to purchase gifts for the categories of children where the least donations have been received.
Councillor Ged Cooney, Leader of Tameside Council, said: “It makes me proud to be able to say that each year Tameside comes together as a community to help others who are facing hardship at this time of year.
“Any donations of new and unused toys and gifts will be greatly appreciated, as all children deserve to have a happy Christmas and experience the excitement of waking up to find presents under the tree.”
