Winter Toy Appeal issues urgent appeal
With just two weeks to go the organisers of a Winter Toy Appeal have issued an urgent plea for donations.
Each year the appeal, run by the Local Buyers Club in partnership with Location Location and Hackney Children & Baby Bank, provides new gifts for around 5,000 children in extreme poverty across North and East London.
Local councils, food banks, children’s centres, schools, refuges and a migrant centre are among those referring children to the appeal.
Appeal founder Jenna Fansa of the Local Buyers Club said: “This is our hardest year yet – the cost-of-living crisis has hit so many people; referrals are up and donations are down! We urgently need more people to give if we’re to reach every child.
“A sense of injustice starts at a very young age – children in the playground after Christmas will be talking about what Santa brought them. Together we can make sure children in poverty have something special to open too. Our thanks go to everyone who has donated so far.”
The last day to donate is Thursday December 15th.
A Just Giving page has been set up, with money raised used to buy new toys from independent stores in London. There’s also an online wish-list with an independent store as well as an Amazon wish list. Or supporters can send new gifts to Location Location, 18 Stoke Newington Church St, London, N16 0LU.
The appeal has been running for nine years and it’s thought that for most of the children referred, this is the only new gift they’ll receive at Christmas.
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