Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Thank you all for your kindness
Caring community comes up trumps yet again
Big-hearted Monklands residents have made our fifth annual toy appeal a massive success – with an amazing 1600 items being donated to deserving youngsters this Christmas.
Gifts have been rolling in to the supermarket donation points over the past six weeks.
The donations included 100 toys handed in by youngsters and families attending the annual Christmas party run by Airdrie Supporters’ Trust at Excelsior stadium ahead of last week’s league match against Raith.
Around 80 children attended the festive party, enjoying games, dancing, a performance by members of local troupe Dance Fuzion and a visit from Santa, who handed out selection boxes.
Trust committee member Dougy Allsop said: “It was really good – there was a great mixture of gifts, with everything from doll houses and games to Action Men and Transformers being donated.
“We’re really delighted; we’ve collected for the toy appeal at our party for a few years now and we’re always happy to do it.”
Trust members also collected donations at the party for Airdrie foodbank, handing over 12 bulging bags to the local charity.
Dougy added: “It’s great to be able to help them and since we have that connection, it means that if there are times when stocks are running low, we can use the club as a vehicle to promote the foodbank and help them out.”
Gifts have been handed in to collection points at the local branches of Tesco, Asda and Morrisons.
They are being distributed by children’s charity Spirit Aid, and by volunteers from XACT – formerly Airdrie and Coatbridge Round Table – who have teamed up with Airdrie’s @ home centre, Monklands women’s aid, the local St Vincent de Paul society, and Coatbridge community nurses to get the gifts to deserving local youngsters.
Morrisons Airdrie people manager Annamarie Walker said the response at the town centre store had been “unbelievable”, saying: “We’ve had a lot more items than last year and it’s been a really good assortment.
“There have been lovely toys like monster trucks, teddy bears and craft sets, and also lots for older children like make-up and gift sets as we had a special over-13s appeal this time which went well.
“One customer even handed in £ 100 of vouchers; people have just been brilliant, and XACT and Spirit Aid have been delighted with what they’ve been able to take away.”
Tesco Coat b r idge community champion Elizabeth Wilkie agreed: “It’s been fantastic once again this year, and people’s generosity has been wonderful.
“When XACT visited with the sleigh, we had the air cadets here to take out 10 trollies of toys and selection boxes to them; and Spirit Aid have also been in to collect their donations.
“There have been quite a few gifts for older children, plus lots of toys as always, even including Scalextric; and some kind person made up handbags filled with hats, scarves, gloves and toiletries.
“We’ve had a donation trolley in store and another in the staff canteen – everybody has wanted to do something nice at Christmas and we’re delighted to see how many things have been donated once again this year.”
Asda Coat bridge community champion Ann Binks agreed: “The response from our customers has been absolutely phenomenal, with trolleys being packed full with donations.
“People are getting more and more generous and we’re delighted. It’s been brilliant taking part once again this year, and we thank everyone who’s been kind enough to make a donation this Christmas.”