Just days left to Give a Gift

There are just days left to get toys and gifts in for this year’s Stirling Observer Give A Gift Appeal.

The charities will be gathering up the presents at our offices in Upper Craigs next week so our generous readers are being asked to get their gifts in to any of our drop off points as soon as possible.

Among the stalwart supporters of the appeal are the generous staff of the SEPA headquarters, who raise money throughout the year to buy a host of toys and gifts.

Observer reporter Kaiya Marjoribanks said: “Anne Neil and her colleagues at SEPA have pulled out the stops every year since the appeal began and over that time have easily donated hundreds of gifts. There will be many children in Stirling who have opened a much appreciated present on Christmas morning thanks to their generosity.

“We also have people from pensioners to children themselves who donate and they can all take heart in the knowledge that their gift will brighten up the lives of a child or young person.”

As the appeal has grown over more than a decade, so has the number who benefit each year.

Among the charities and good causes which help to distribute the gifts donated every year to the Stirling Observer Give A Gift Appeal are Stirling Young Carers; HomeStart Stirling which supports families with young children going through difficult times; Stirling Women’s Aid; Stirling Council social services; PLUS, the local organisation which provides social opportunities for children and young people with disabilities; Stirling Interfaith Community Justice Group, which helps families and children at the Family Help Hubs at Cornton Vale and Glenochil; Support4Families, which supports those affected by a relative’s substance abuse including kinship carers; Barnardo’s; KiDS group for children with Down’s Syndrome; and Forth Valley Royal Hospital children’s ward.

Collected at our offices in Upper Craigs and with the support of a host of drop-off points across the area, the gifts aim to ensure no local child goes without on Christmas morning and that those children and their families going through difficult times know their community has them in their thoughts.

The appeal also exists to ease the pressure many of the charities face over the festive season and allow them to put resources they may otherwise have had to use for gifts into their other areas of good work.

Kaiya added: “We will be gathering in all the toys and gifts from our drop off points over the next few days and the weekend. Any drop off points, schools or business which still need to arrange collection of items can get in touch with us to arrange uplift.

“Donations can also still be dropped off at our offices in the Craigs on Monday and Tuesday.

“A huge thank you to all who support the appeal, from individuals to workplaces and from schools to drop off points. Without them many of these children would be going without on Christmas morning.

“Feedback from the support workers from these amazing charities and good causes leaves us in no doubt how much the donations are needed and appreciated. We are privileged to be able to undertake something which allows the public to show their support to these fantastic people for everything they do for others throughout the year.”

For queries please call (01786) 459417 or email kaiya. marjoribanks@reachplc.com or news@stirlingobserver.co.uk.