The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fife group warns of bleak Christmas facing hundreds of children.
Team behind the Gift of Christmas Appeal Fife are desperately low on presents to give to disadvantaged youngsters
A Fife group is warning hundreds of youngsters may not get a Christmas present this year unless the public steps in to help.
The Gift of Christmas Appeal Fife is looking at an almost empty warehouse, only a week before the closing date for donations.
It has almost 900 applications for gifts this year – 100 more than in 2017 – so many of the kingdom’s most vulnerable youngsters face being left bitterly disappointed on December 25.
The charity aims to ensure every Fife child has a gift to open on Christmas day.
For some, it may be the only present they receive.
Kate Hope, one of the five parents who organise the annual event, is warning they desperately need the public’s help.
“Donations are again coming in slowly, even slower than last year,” she said.
“Everyone is feeling the pinch, especially the families who benefit from our appeal.”
The charity has 60 drop-off points for donations this year, but Kate, who is a trustee along with Hilary Haman, Sarah Brown, Charlotte Lever and Lee Miller, said several have yet to receive any donations, despite being open to accept gifts since November 1.
“Others have only started receiving donations during the past week or so,” said Kate.
“Last year things were slow but picked up during the last two weeks. However, this year we are yet to see the last-minute increase in donations being received.”
On a brighter note, Kate said the donations received so far had been fantastic.
“We are very grateful to those who continue to support us, as are the children and families who benefit from our appeal.
“However, we are ready and waiting to collect and receive more donations from our 60 drop-off points, but at many there has been very little to collect.”
Now in its third year and run entirely by volunteers, it is collecting toys and gifts for children and young people from birth to the age of 18.
“Despite many setbacks and hurdles to overcome, we will continue to run Gift of Christmas Appeal Fife every year because we believe that every child and young person deserves to have gifts to open on Christmas Day.
“We are happy to sacrifice much of our own Christmases in order to achieve this, spending many hours in a very cold warehouse,” she said.
“It is fantastic to have seen the public coming together to help those in need, but it is also extremely saddening that there is such a high demand for assistance.”