John’s help with Christmas appeal is just in time

Charity Trustee Emma Metcalfe, from Rochdale Borough Council thanks John Alexander of J & D Alexander jewellers for his support

A kind-hearted business owner in Rochdale has given the town’s Christmas Toy Appeal a timely boost – donating 20 brand new watches.

John Alexander of J & D Alexander Jewellers 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 25 December. He said: “I thought it was a very worthwhile cause and I’d heard that they’d previously struggled with suitable gifts for teenage boys so I thought I’d help them out.”

Charity Trustee Emma Metcalfe, from Rochdale Borough Council, visited the jewellery shop in The Walk this week to collect the sports watches. She said: “This appeal brings the best out of local people and businesses and this is another example of how big-hearted people in our borough are. We are so grateful for John’s kind donation as will be the 20 children who wake up to one of these superb watches on Christmas Day.”

As well as selling jewellery from Victoriana to the present day John is a keen supporter of local charities – performing country and western classics regularly as ‘the singing jeweller’.

The annual Christmas Toy 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 will make sure they reach the borough’s less fortunate children in time for the big day.

Gifts have started to arrive at libraries but the appeal still needs more.