The gift of giving:

Annual North East Toy Drive is hailed as ‘fantastic’ by organiser

Imogen Leonard, 6, helping the North East Toy Drive.

A Fife toy appeal has received a fantastic response this year.

Over the weekend an army of volunteers began sorting through hundreds of gifts donated to this year’s North East Toy Drive.

Organiser Victoria Leonard said the response this year to the month-long campaign, which came to a close last Wednesday, had been “fantastic”.

She added that the event, now in its fourth year, had enjoyed a remarkable response from nurseries, primary and secondary schools, local businesses and charities in the north east of Fife who have acted as collection points.

“The calibre of gift being donated has been of such a high standard,” she added.

At Toy Drive headquarters, she said, they were proud to say that every gift donated in the north-east of Fife stayed there.

“As you know the north-east of Fife is a considerably large area, and we have spent a great deal of time and effort over the last four years building relationships with both statutory and voluntary agencies and working alongside businesses and schools to ensure we understand the needs of our area,” she said.

“So much hard work goes on behind the scenes to ensure we maximise our referrals to support as many children and families as possible.

“Last year’s event is testament to this with between 350 and 400 individual referrals being matched,” she said.

The group has also received monetary donations this year from WAAAGH, the Women’s Anti-Austerity Action Group, North East Fife Rotary Club and Fife Council.

Meanwhile, Tesco’s Riverside store in Dundee also offered support by donating a whopping 10 crates of brand new toys.

Local MP Stephen Gethins also helped by acting as a collection point for donations.

“Toy Drive has made a massive difference to so many children across north-east Fife who may otherwise not receive a gift on Christmas Day,” he said.

“It is awful to think that this is the case, but thanks to the hardworking team at Toy Drive and the great generosity of people across the area, who exemplify the true spirit of Christmas by thinking of other, Toy Drive ensures that gifts get to those who are most in need.”

Picture: Steven Brown. Pupils from Waid Academy surrounded by Toy Drive gifts are, from left, back: Annie Adamson, Laura Johnston and Oliver Barass, Front - Neve Peacock, Amy Williamson, Freya Halliday and teacher Ms Danielle Jervis.