Our festive appeal is up and running
Give A Gift 2016 off to flier
The Stirling Observer Give A Gift Appeal 2016 is now up and running.
Generous readers have already been starting to hand in gifts to our office in Upper Craigs, with offers of help also coming in.
All the toys donated find a good home thanks to the local charities and good causes which help distribute the gifts to sick, needy and disadvantaged youngsters.
They include: Stirling Council Social Services; Cultenhove Opportunities; Stirling Young Carers; Barnardo’s; Stirling Women’s Aid; Aberlour; Home-Start Stirling; PLUS; Cornton Vale Family Centre and Help Hub; and foodbank charity Start-Up Stirling among others.
We also accept requests from a number of other organisations and good causes.
Stirling Observer reporter Kaiya Marjoribanks said: “We often get asked for Lego as it is so popular with both boys and girls of all ages and is something which they use in all sorts of creative ways.
“Other popular requests in recent years have been anything to do with Disney’s Frozen and Star Wars but basically anything goes.
“We ask for new toys as opposed to used just so we can ensure the children receive something that is brand new and theirs.
“While soft toys are certainly welcome, we tend to get plenty of them so if anyone wants to get something that is particularly needed that’s probably one area which is already well catered for.
“We also provide gifts for teenagers supported by some of the charities so anything suitable for teens up to the age of 16 is also much appreciated.
“However, every item donated is put to very good use.
“One of the reasons we invite the charities along for a day before Christmas is to enable them to choose particular toys for the children and young people they help so they can match them to the right children.
“Every single item is appreciated and goes to a child.
“Every year it gets more and more difficult for families and for the charities to ensure these children have a Christmas they will remember for all the right reasons.
“We know our readers want to help those less fortunate than themselves and as the local newspaper we are delighted to be able to offer them a way to do this.”
If you would like to organise a collection of gifts for the appeal via your business, workplace, school or group, would like to be one of our official drop off points, or would simply like more information, please feel free to contact the Stirling Observer by phone on (01786) 451110 or 459417 or email: news@stirlingobserver. co.uk or kaiya. marjoribanks@ trinitymirror.com.
Your support will be much appreciated and we will aim to photograph and feature as many collections as possible in the Observer over the festive season.
For an up to date list of drop off points see our Friday paper or look out for details on the Stirling Observer Facebook page over the coming days.