Come and join The Giving Tree

THIS year’s Giving Tree Appeal has been launched to offer you the chance to make a local child smile this Christmas.

For more than 15 years, generous Wokingham people have dug deep to make sure less fortunate youngsters stay on Santa’s list.

The idea is simple, but it sparkles with the true spirit of the season.

You choose a tag from one of the many Giving Trees across the borough, buy the gift on the tag and return it (unwrapped) to the tree.

Big-hearted volunteers then go to work to get the presents to local charities, which make sure they go to children whose stockings might otherwise have been empty on Christmas morning.

Last year, more than 2,500 tags were collected and hopes are high Wokingham folk will be even more generous this time around.

Gill Mckernan, from Barnardo’s High Close School, said: “Last year was fantastic with over 2,500 tags taken from the trees but I have a feeling that this year could succeed that number.

The appeal just gets bigger and bigger each year with more venues wanting to host a tree.

“No child who has asked for a gift through the Giving Tree will go without this Christmas. Supporting the Giving Tree does not mean spending a fortune. Any present will put a smile on the face of a child at Christmas.

“All shoppers need to do is choose a tag, buy the gift suggested and return it, unwrapped to the place where they collected the tag from.”

If you can buy an extra gift to make someone else’s Christmas, find a tree near you and send it with love.

Picture: Phil Creighton We’re ready! Volunteers and charities at the launch of this year’s Giving Tree appeal at Tesco’s Wokingham superstore. The appeal matches presents to children who would otherwise do without at Christmas