THE community of Salisbury has once again given generously to support families in need this Christmas.

The Great Big Salisbury Christmas Toy Appeal, which was started last year and is in its second year, is spearheaded by Louise McConnell, of ReQuire Consultancy in Salisbury, to ensure that children who might miss out on getting presents this Christmas don’t miss out.

Around £5,000 was given in monetary donations this year with “a lot” of toys also been given to support the appeal.

Louise said: “We had more donations of toys than we did money. Yet again we managed to fill up three units at 1st access. It’s been really lovely.”

She said the response to the appeal has been “brilliant” and around 300 children will receive presents for Christmas thanks to the donations from the community.

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The gift appeal launched on November 18. Members of the public were asked to support the appeal by purchasing toys or making a donation on the appeal’s fundraising page. Businesses also got behind the appeal by collecting toys from staff and customers.

Some of the gifts have been distributed to families through St Paul’s Church and Louise says this year they got the chance to meet some of the people the appeal will be helping.

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“It was brilliant, another big success,” added Louise.

Nationwide in Salisbury also supported the appeal and had a Christmas tree in branch where presents could be donated.

A boot-full of toys were given to the appeal as part of the Kindness Offensive.

Over the weekend The Stable & Wick bakery and farm shop in Downton hosted a charity toy giveaway in collaboration with The Kindness Offensive, the world’s largest performers of random acts of kindness, to spread festive cheer.

“A huge thank you again to the communities for really getting behind us and rallying around. I’m hoping by now Salisbury have taken this their to their heart. I think they definitely have," said Louise.

“Without everybody, without the businesses, the public and all these little extra surprises it just wouldn’t happen. Just a massive thank you to the community as a whole.

“We are looking at about 300 children that will have gifts on Christmas Day that wouldn’t have done due to the community. That’s all down to the community getting behind it.”

Presents have also been donated to other charities in the area including Salisbury Hospice Charity and Alabare. The Amazon wishlist at Spurgeons Children’s Centre was also purchased.

 

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