Give a Christmas gift - toy appeal

Giving Back Charity Members Sue Milne, Caroline Wolfenden, Mark Jones, Helen Leach and Lisa Mills

Donations are being sought for a Christmas Toy Appeal, which helps to make sure local children living in poverty have presents to open on 25 December.

The appeal is organised by the council’s staff-run ‘Giving Back’ charity. It asks residents and staff to buy one extra present at Christmas – a new, unwrapped gift suitable for a child between 0-16 years-old and simply leave it at a local library by Wednesday 13 December.

Council staff, who collected a record 1,200 toys last year, will then make sure they reach the boroughs less fortunate children in time for the big day.

Council lawyer Helen Leach, from the Giving Back charity, said: "For many households Christmas can be a time of real pressure and hardship, so our appeal aims to make sure that no child in the borough misses out.

"Thankfully, over the last three years that we have been running this appeal our residents, staff and businesses have really got behind it, but we always need more gifts.

"It is tough when you think that for some children it will be their only present, but let’s make it a good one.”

Toys can be dropped off now until 13 December at collection points located at every library in the borough.

Gifts for 0-16-year-olds are all welcome, but especially presents for teenage boys that were low in number last year.

For details and opening times of your nearest drop off point visit: 

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/business/L/460/libraries