Christmas toy appeal

Helen Leach and Sue Milne from Rochdale Borough Council

Residents are being asked to donate gifts to the Council Christmas Toy Appeal, which aims to make sure local children living in poverty have presents to open on 25 December.

The annual appeal sees the council’s employee-run ‘Giving Back’ charity asking residents and staff to buy one extra present, a new, unwrapped gift suitable for a child between 0-16-years-old and leave it at a local library by Wednesday 16 December.

Council staff, who collected over 500 toys last year, will make sure they reach the borough's less fortunate children in time for the big day.

Helen Leach, from ‘Giving Back’, believes hundreds of children in the borough won’t be expecting a present from Santa this Christmas, she said: “Thankfully in the last two years residents and our staff have got behind this appeal but some children did still go without so we always need more.

"Gifts have already started to roll in and we are hopeful of collecting more than last year - everything is high quality and I am always moved by everyone’s generosity.

"In 2015 it’s tough to think that for some children it will be their only present, but let’s make it a good one.”

Toys can be dropped off 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.