MP Mhairi backs toy bank appeal
Donations welcomed at constituency office
ALISON RENNIE
Mhairi Black MP is the latest politician to back the Renfrewshire Christmas Toy Bank appeal.
Set up by local mum Lauren Roy-Sutherland, the toy bank will provide presents to children in Renfrewshire who may otherwise not receive any gifts on Christmas Day.
Lauren has been working with businesses, charities and organisations across Renfrewshire to arrange drop- off points for people to donate toys.
And Mhairi Black, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, is the latest to get behind the cause and is welcoming donations at her office on Wellmeadow Street in Paisley.
She said: “It was a pleasure to meet with Lauren and hear about this fantastic cause. It is an unfortunate truth that some families will find themselves struggling this Christmas leaving some children in Renfrewshire with nothing to open on Christmas Day.
“Every child deserves the joy of opening a gift on Christmas morning and my hope is that the work being done by Renfrewshire Christmas Toy Bank will make sure that kids have something to be cheerful about this Christmas.”
She added: “My constituency office on Wellmeadow Street in Paisley already welcomes donations for Renfrewshire Food Bank and now it will also be a drop off point for any gifts that you wish to donate to the toy bank.”
The Renfrewshire Christmas Toy Bank cannot accept second hand gifts and all donations of toys must be new.
Lauren said: “I cannot thank everyone who has already donated enough. The community’s support has been vital in already completing over 200 referrals however we have hundreds more to do.
“If anyone is able to donate gifts or money it would really help ensure all Renfrewshire children enjoy the magic of Christmas.
“Thank you to Mhairi Black for being our latest supporter and offering her constituency office to be used as a drop off point for Renfrewshire Christmas Toy Bank.”
The toy bank is currently short of the following gifts: make up bags, make up, bath sets, male bath sets, male socks, teenage pyjamas, aftershave, lol dolls, baby toys, Barbies, dolls, action figures, board games, and selection boxes.
Donations are welcome until December 17 at various locations across Renfrewshire, including all libraries, the service desk at intu Braehead and the constituency offices of Mhairi Black and Gavin Newlands.
For details on where you can drop off donations, go to facebook.com/ renfrewshirechristmastoybank/