Operation Jingle Bells is due to finish this Friday

LOUGHBOROUGH Students’ Union (LSU) is once again working in partnership with Toys on the Table to launch Operation Jingle Bells over the festive season.

Operation Jingle Bells was first initiated in 2018 and is led by LSU’s volunteering strand, Action.

Action is collaborating with the Leicestershire-based charity, which works hard to provide gifted toys to many children who would otherwise not have presents to open at Christmas.

LSU is calling on staff, students and the local community to rally together for the appeal and spread the festive cheer to help less fortunate children across the county.

Last year they were successful in providing more than 700 gifts, setting a record for the most toys ever donated to the charity in one go.

This year, Loughborough University and LSU want to go even bigger in ensuring every child receives a gift this Christmas. From now until this Friday, December 13, they will be accepting donations priced between £5-10.

Presents must be new and in their original packaging, although they do not need to be wrapped up. If your gift requires batteries, please provide these too if possible.

You can donate your gift at various locations around campus, including the Piazza in LSU, Hazlerigg Building, Careers Network, Edward Herbert Building, West Park Teaching Hub, James France Building, the LSU Nursery, Martin Hall and Loughborough Design School.

LSU’s Action section chair Pippa Baynham said: “Operation Jingle Bells is an incredible campaign which aims to give gifts to children at Christmas who may otherwise not receive anything from Santa, and this year we want to collect even more toys and help even more families.

“We ask for the presents to be new and priced between £5-10. We are aiming to provide presents for children aged 8-13 years old and will need donations of wrapping paper too.”

Trustee of Toys on the Table, Bill Bowley added: “We’re delighted to working again with Loughborough Students’ Union and hope to help even more children this Christmas.

“The generosity and willingness of the students and staff at Loughborough to help children is something we are so grateful for, and we can’t wait to see what this year brings.

“In particular, we’re keen to provide children aged 8-13 years old with gifts such as toiletries and hats, scarves or gloves.”

More information about Operation Jingle Bells can be found at https://lsu.co.uk/jinglebells