How to buy
Via Ivy Street Family Centre’s Amazon Wish List: http://www.amazon.co.uk/registry/wishlist/27VNQ49KPP3T0
Or shop local – here’s some inspiration
Babies: rattles, chunky colourful toys, shape sorters, wooden or soft toys, board books, mobiles
Pre-schoolers: crayons, pens, paper, crafty toys, books, dolls, vehicles, musical instruments, dressing up/role play
School-aged children: vehicles, footballs, clothes, craft kits, sports equipment, books, board games, puzzles, stationary, fashion accessories
We’re also collecting the following for Hackney Food Bank:
Mince pies, Christmas pudding, chocolates and biscuits, savoury snacks and crackers, jam, chutney, pickle, tinned ham, UHT milk, pasta sauces, tinned fruit, porridge, instant coffee/hot chocolate, Christmas crackers, loo roll and toiletries.
Toy and Food Appeal responds to devastating poverty
As hundreds of families in Hackney struggle to make ends meet a Toy and Food Appeal has been launched to ease the burden this winter.
For a third year running, StokeyParents is running a Winter Toy and Food Appeal in partnership with estate agency Location Location for children most in need in our community.
Hackney has London’s second highest poverty rate, with 41% of children living below the poverty line.
Jenna Fansa, founder of StokeyParents said: “Hundreds of families don’t have enough to eat, lack warm clothes and can’t afford the basics. We’re collecting new gifts for children in most need, which will be distributed by an amazing network of organisations. They include The Ivy Street Family Centre, social workers, Hackney Food Bank, women’s refuges, hostels, police, schools, a prison and children’s centres.
“I hope this appeal will ease the pressure for hundreds of local families and that they’ll feel the warmth of a community who care greatly for their wellbeing.”
Gifts are also available to purchase via an Amazon Wish List and these will be delivered straight to the charity. Please give generously and help us show people experiencing hardship that we care.
Last year’s appeal helped more than 700 children and more than 500 meals were collected for the Food Bank.
Claire Reay, Acting Manager of the Ivy Street Family Centre, said: “Deprivation has sky-rocketed this year. We are seeing a lot of hungry people – parents are feeding their children first but can’t afford to look after themselves. The Toy Appeal makes a tremendous difference to families like this and we’re always incredibly moved by the generosity of Stoke Newington’s community.”
According to a recent report by the Child Poverty Action Group, 700 families in Hackney are technically homeless – many live in hostels and temporary accommodation.
The problem is compounded by extensive welfare cuts, and welfare sanctions which penalise those who miss appointments, high rents (the ratio between rent and earnings here is 76%) and a lack of affordable housing, high childcare costs, a lack of part-time jobs and high living costs.
If you run a business or community organisation locally and would like to help the appeal, please email news@stokeyparents.com