Toy appeal aims to spread Xmas cheer

Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser’s annual festive toy appeal launches today – and generous supporters are once again getting set to ensure it’s a merry Christmas for young people across Monklands.

Donations of gifts for children aged from birth to 16 can be handed in at collection points which are in place at both Tesco and Morrisons in Airdrie and at Asda in Coatbridge from now until Wednesday, December 15.

Games, toys, books, toiletries and vouchers are being collected by supportive staff at the three supermarkets, and will be distributed through local groups by members of Coatbridge, Airdrie and Monklands Rotary Club.

Volunteers from the group joined big-hearted staff from all three supermarkets for the

official launch of the 2021 appeal at Tesco in Airdrie retail park.

Rotary president Martin Cairney and fellow member John Beever joined Tesco manager Sean Mccarter

and customer assistant Mary Wood, Asda manager Kevin Mcphee and community champion Ann Binks, and Morrisons community champion Ann Seagriff and nightshift manager George Mcculloch as they got behind the ninth annual festive campaign.

With Christmas now little over six weeks away, all those behind the toy appeal are hoping it will be just as successful as in previous years – which have seen a grand total of nearly 12,000 gifts donated to youngsters in need.

Rotary volunteers will collect the trolley-loads of donations from the three supermarkets, and after quarantining them safely for a period in a repeat of the Covid safety measures introduced

last year, will sort through the gifts at their weekly meetings at the Tudor Hotel in Airdrie.

Gifts will be again be distributed to youngsters identified by groups including local schools, community nurses, St Vincent de Paul and church groups, and community education workers including through the @home centre in Airdrie.

Monklands toy appeal co-ordinator Norbert Grant said: “We’re looking forward to this year’s toy appeal and it’s always great to see how generous people are in supporting it.

“The Rotary members are all delighted to be backing the toy appeal and are very enthusiastic and keen to do what they can for the residents of Coatbridge,

Airdrie and district. We couldn’t do the toy appeal without the brilliant support from the local supermarkets – their staff are so passionate and enthusiastic about supporting the community, and they do such a great job each year.

“Our members will be picking up donations from each of the three stores and we’re also able to arrange pick-ups from individual organisations and businesses who wish to donate items.”

The toy appeal is in progress now with collection points ready and waiting at each of the three supermarkets and will run for the next five weeks. Groups wishing to arrange an individual collection of items can do so by contacting 07789 540609.