Call for donations

Two campaigns were launched in October calling for people to donate presents to help those in the city who are less fortunate.

When charity boss Charlie Kean launched his annual Christmas toy appeal earlier this year, he emphasised that there was a greater need than ever for donations.

Charlie said he had been contacted by groups and individuals asking for help.

The charity boss said there was close to 30,000 toys collected last year, which were distributed to families in the two weeks leading up to Christmas.

Charlie, however, today said that toy donations were slower coming in this just a little bit to buy something for a child who otherwise will wake up to no Christmas presents.”

Meanwhile, the council’s annual toy appeal is under way for its fifth year, with organisers hoping to distribute more than £75,000 worth of gifts to underprivileged kids.

The l ocal authority’s skills for learning and work team — Discover Opportunities — has partnered with Help for Kids, Wave 102 and Tesco to distribute presents to hundreds of kids from tots to 18-year-olds.

Kiley West, project manager at Discover, said: “We have a gap in gifts for kids aged 11 and older.

“Over the years, we’ve done a bit of fundraising and hope we can fill some of the gap.

“If you’re nipping to the shops over the next week please consider picking up something for one of Dundee’s bairns.”

To donate presents to either toy appeal contact the council or Charlie directly.

WITH only 10 days to go until Christmas, an emergency appeal has gone out for Dundee residents to dig as deep as they can to help underprivileged children.

City charity boss Charlie Kean has called for people to come forward with Christmas present donations.

Santa with Kiley and Nikki Bryce, members of the council’s toy appeal team.