Littleborough firm makes biggest ever donation to annual Christmas toy appeal

Managing director Mark Cryer and his team is thanked Charity Trustee Helen Walton at Pressed Flights Ltd for their donation to this year’s Christmas Toy Appeal

A kind-hearted business has given the borough’s Christmas Toy Appeal its biggest ever boost – donating 20 Kindle Fire tablets and another £1,000 worth of gifts for local disadvantaged children.

Mark Cryer, managing director of Pressed Flights Ltd in Littleborough, contacted the council’s employee-run ‘Giving Back’ charity when he heard about their annual appeal which asks residents to donate gifts to make sure local children living in poverty have presents to open on December 25.

Generous Mark said: “Instead of doing our usual thing of giving a bottle of wine to all our customers we thought we’d do something different to help local children instead. I thought this was a very worthwhile cause and I’d heard that they’ve sometimes struggled with suitable gifts for teenagers so I thought we could help. We’ve had a busy year and it’s nice to be able to give something back.”

Charity trustee Helen Walton, from Rochdale Borough Council, visited the precision engineering company on Todmorden Road this week to thank them personally. She said: “This appeal brings the best out of local people and businesses. This fabulous gift which is worth over £2,000 to our appeal is the biggest single donation we’ve ever had. We are so grateful for the support of Mark and all the team at Pressed Flights, as will be the children who wake up to a fabulous present on Christmas Day.”

Pressed Flights Ltd have been based in Littleborough for over 30 years, making and repairing screw conveyors and feeders for a wide range of industries across the UK. They employ 21 staff, including 3 apprentices.

The annual appeal organised by the council’s staff-run ‘Giving Back’ charity asks residents and staff to buy one extra present – a new, unwrapped gift suitable for a child between 0-16 years-old and simply leave it at a local library by Friday 14 December.  Council staff, who distributed 2,300 toys last year, will then make sure they reach the borough’s less fortunate children in time for Christmas Day.

Gifts have started to arrive at libraries but the appeal still needs more. For details and opening times of your nearest drop off point visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/libraries