Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Diamonds’ sponsors boost our toy appeal
JUDITH TONNER
A sparkling performance from Diamonds supporters large and small gave a massive boost to the Advertiser’s annual toy appeal in its final week.
Generous Airdrie sponsors Stevenson and Kelly donated funds to the club’s community trust to be used for items to be donated to the festive campaign.
Trust representatives used the three- figure sum from the roof trusses company, based at Stirling Road industrial estate, to provide a huge array of gifts ranging from cuddly toys and games to make-up sets and even wireless speakers for teens.
Boosted by donations from fans dropping in with further donations ahead of games at the Penny Cars Stadium, it meant a grand total of around 200 items was gathered at the ground and collected by grateful representatives from Monklands good cause XACT for distribution to local youngsters.
Airdrie director Gordon Watson, who is also a trustee of the community trust, was joined by Stevenson and Kelly directors Danny Clark and David Ross and designer Allan Nimmo as the impressive haul was collected to be distributed in time for Christmas.
He said: “The stadium, club and community trust were all represented at the toy appeal launch and were always going to support it; and then Stevenson and Kelly, one of our sponsors, asked if they could make a donation to the trust to benefit the toy appeal.
“We converted that donation to a wide range of toys for the appeal; we tried to get a mix of everything – covering boys, girls and all ages, and buying all sorts of different things, from dolls to board games to things for the older kids.
“Stevenson and Kelly are big supporters of the club and community trust and wanted to do their best to help and support us and assist the community as much as possible.”
He added: “We’ve also had more toys being donated by supporters at matches, and other people handing in toys throughout the appeal as they could see on social media that we were another dropoff point in the community.
“The response has been great, and businesses and the community have got behind it – thanks to Stevenson and Kelly and the other donations we’ve had given to us at the stadium, we’ve had three massive trolleyloads.
“We’ve had in excess of 200 presents and they’ve been collected to be handed out by XACT in time for Christmas.”