As we enter December, there are only weeks to go until Christmas Day and we are asking readers of Renfrewshire News to consider making a Toy Bank donation.
Renfrewshire Christmas Toy Bank, set up by Renfrew mum Lauren Roy-Sutherland, is working in partnership with Renfrewshire Council Social Work, Barbados Thread, Renfrewshire Foodbank and the Star Project.
The organisations deal with the most deprived children across our towns and villages and are able to make a referral to the Toy Bank for a child to receive a Christmas parcel.
For some children, the gift that they receive from the Toy Bank will be the only Christmas gift that they will receive this year.
Ricky Kelly from Renfrewshire News said: “It’s sad to think that some children won’t have a Christmas. They won’t receive a gift and some won’t have a Christmas dinner.
“When we first heard about the Toy Bank being set up we felt we had to help and have been running articles and have published lists of collection points which we’ve been updating on a regular basis.
“We urge our readers, if they are able to do so, to make a donation.”
Businesses across Renfrewshire have signed up to become collection points including shops, pubs, nurseries, accountants, intu Braehead Shopping Centre and all of Renfrewshire’s libraries.
Yesterday MP Mhairi Black became the latest supporter of the Toy Bank and will use her constituency office as a drop-off point for toys.
Mhairi, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, said: “It was a pleasure to meet with Lauren and hear about this fantastic cause. Many families will find themselves in poverty this Christmas which means children in Renfrewshire will have nothing on Christmas Day.
“Every child deserves the joy of opening a gift on Christmas morning and my hope is that the work being done by Renfrewshire Christmas Toy Bank will make sure that kids have something to be cheerful about this Christmas.
“The Toy Bank have done a fantastic job of making sure many local businesses and organisations in Renfrewshire take part by acting as drop off points for people to donate gifts. My constituency office on Wellmeadow Street in Paisley already welcomes donations for Renfrewshire Food Bank and now it will also be a drop off point for any gifts that you wish to donate to the toy bank.”
As Christmas gets closer, referrals have been pouring in. Lauren Roy-Sutherland said: “I cannot thank everyone who has already donated enough. The local community’s support has been vital in already completing over 200 referrals however we have hundreds more to do.
“If anyone is able to donate gifts or money it would really help ensure all Renfrewshire children enjoy the magic of Christmas.”
Full list of Toy Bank drop-off points: http://bit.ly/2QrL5B0.