Superstore support
The team at Morrisons superstore in Stirling have once again pledged their support to the Stirling Observer Give A Gift Appeal.
Locals are already starting to drop their gifts off within the store, and even pick up toys and gifts to donate while doing their shopping.
Mandy Fairley from the store said: “We are really on board with this. There can’t be any better feeling on Christmas morning than knowing that somewhere there is a child who is opening a present they might not otherwise have had because you have taken the time to donate.
“We are very passionate about supporting charities and good causes and supporting the Give A Gift Appeal is an ideal opportunity to help a whole host of charities.
“Our team are being asked to make their own donations and we hope our customers will appreciate the chance to make their own contributions.”
Stirling Observer reporter Kaiya Marjoribanks said: “To have Morrisons on board once again is amazing and hopefully it makes it even easier to donate to the appeal.
“Hopefully being able to buy and donate at the same time will encourage even more people to support Give A Gift.
“The level of donations we receive has grown hugely over the last 11 years, which has enabled us to support more and more local charities and good causes. However, the need for the gifts has also risen over that time and we are eternally grateful to our readers and supporters for helping us to meet that growing demand year after year.”
The appeal receives and distributes donations of new toys and gifts for sick, disabled, needy and disadvantaged children and young people - from babies to teenagers - at Christmas.
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.