The Rotherham Christmas Toy Appeal is running again in 2023 to make sure no child or young person goes without a gift to open on Christmas morning.
The annual appeal is co-ordinated by Ann Levick of Families First, plus a team of dedicated elves who all volunteer to ensure the children and young people of Rotherham have a happy, joyful Christmas day.
What started as redistributing second-hand toys in the 1990s has since grown to an appeal which provided gifts to over 2,100 children and young people last year. The Rotherham Christmas Toy Appeal receives requests from professionals working closely with families so they can identify those most in need.
This Christmas will be harder than ever for many Rotherham families. The rising cost of living, mortgage or rent increases, gas and electric rates, and food prices have taken its toll.
However, Ann has every faith in the people of Rotherham, who have come together year after year to support the toy appeal. There are people with little to give who still find some way to give what they can to the appeal.
They also have the backing of Parkgate Shopping, as well as the local media, businesses, churches, and schools.
If you would like to get involved, the next time you’re at Parkgate Shopping Centre look for the giving trees which have tags on them. Pick a tag, purchase a gift for that age range, and hand it in – unwrapped – to any store or the security office. You can also hand gifts in to your local library.
The elves will then ‘go shopping’ from the donations and match the toys or gifts up with the recipients from their referral list based on what that child has said they may like from Santa. Ann and the team work extremely hard to ensure all children have a gift, soft toy and stocking filler, so even the smallest donations will go a long way to a child’s happiness at Christmas.
What a lovely feeling waking up on Christmas morning knowing you have helped a Rotherham child or young person feel special.
Contact Ann via email ann.familiesfirst@gmail.com to get further information about how your school, business, or organisation can get involved.
