10 years on and our ‘Give a Gift Appeal’ is still important

Charities who benefit from the Stirling Observer’s Give A Gift Appeal have been telling the Observer how important it has become to them over the years.

The appeal has been running since 2008, receiving and distributing donations of toys and gifts for sick, disabled, needy and disadvantaged children and young people at Christmas.

Among the charities and good causes which help to distribute the gifts donated every year are StirlingYoung Carers; Home-Start 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; and foodbank charity Start-Up Stirling.

For many of those helped by the charities, Christmas is often a particularly difficult time.

Jessica Lindohf, manager of Stirling and District Women’s Aid, said:“It is hard to believe we are fast approaching Christmas once again.

“With Christmas also comes a difficult time of year for many of the women and children we are working with and supporting. This time is often difficult for women and children fleeing domestic abuse as they often While a number of workplaces and schools are hugely supportive of Give A Gift, individuals also answer the call in their droves, dropping gifts off at various places which kindly agree each year to be collection venues.

Drop off points can be found at: STIRLING: Stirling Observer, 34 Upper Craigs; Nationwide Building Society, Port Street; CodeBase Stirling, 8-10 Corn Exchange Road; BALFRON: Balfron Library; BANNOCKBURN: Bannockburn Post Office; CALLANDER: Callander Primary School;DUNBLANE: Beech Tree Cafe, 2 Beech Road; Dunblane Centre, Stirling Road.