THE people of Reading are being asked to dig deep again this year as we launch our annual Toys and Teens appeal for deprived children.
Every year the Reading Chronicle teams up with local charity Reading Family Aid to collect Christmas presents for children and teenagers who would otherwise not receive anything.
Last year the appeal helped 1,500 young people across the town, and Reading Family Aid chairman Sallie Wall says this year she expects even more people will need help.
She said: “There was a recent report about poverty in Reading which highlighted the fact that there’s only one ward in Reading that doesn’t have any deprivation in it, which is amazing when you think that we are such a prosperous town. There’s a huge divide between those who are benefitting from the economic boom and those who can’t access those benefits. 
“Last year we provided gifts for about 1,500 children altogether, but I think this year it will be even more.”
The appeal asks people for toys, games, puzzles and books for children and appropriate gifts for teenagers, which can be dropped off at a number of donation points around town. Those gifts are then stored until the end of the appeal, and on the week commencing December 8 they are taken to a large church hall where more than 100 volunteers help sort the toys, matching requests sent in from social workers, schools and health visitors. Each family on the list is then given a sack of presents – three or four for each child – which are then distributed via the agency workers to the families.
Sallie, a grandmother of four, has been volunteering for Reading Family Aid for 15 years. 
She said: “As a grandmother I can’t imagine not being able to give my grandchildren presents at Christmas, but some people just can’t. It could be for any number of reasons - the father perhaps has died or gone to prison and the family has been plunged into this situation they weren’t expecting.”
She added: “The people of Reading are amazingly generous. When you go into the church hall and see all the gifts and toys piled up it really is quite overwhelming.”
A list of acceptable donations is published below, and include items such as jigsaws, games and books for children, and toiletry bags, handbags and cosmetics for teens. Goods should either be new or second hand, but clean and in good condition. 
For more information visit www.reading
chronicle.co.uk/news/toys_and_teens/2015.