LET’S put a smile on a lot more faces this Christmas by being generous to those less fortunate across the county.
That’s the appeal from Carmarthenshire council’s executive board member for community engagement, Cllr Cefin Campbell, in launching the council’s Toybox and hamper appeal.
Residents county-wide are being asked to help to brighten Christmas for the deserving by donating new presents or food items for the seventh annual appeal.
Cllr Campbell said the aim was to provide presents for hundreds of boys and girls from birth age to 16-year-olds from families who cannot afford to buy food, gifts or toys for their offspring.
Council deputy leader, Cllr Mair Stephens, said the Toybox and Christmas gift appeal was growing in strength year by year. Last year they provided parcels of multiple gifts for 662 children and young people and a total of 257 food hampers in a massive undertaking.
“This is all down to the generosity of residents county-wide who donate new presents appropriate for babies through to teenagers.”
Informing full council of the 2017 appeal launch Cllr Stephens said: “We all recognise and appreciate Christmas is a time for giving and receiving. Unfortunately there are families that face difficult times and perhaps, sometimes, by providing gifts for their children, they go into debt.
“We have a small but hard working team who ensure that recipients are vetted to as being appropriately in need. From collection to storage and wrapping it is all a massive undertaking.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank businesses for their generosity and support, in particular Nolan, which has allowed the appeal to be hosted at their premises in Johnstown.”
There are collection points for gifts across Carmarthenshire, including County Hall, Carmarthen; Ty Elwyn, Llanelli and Ammanford Town Hall.
Add Comment