THE Reading Chronicle is supporting a project designed to put a smile on a child’s face this Christmas.

Reading Family Aid’s annual Toys and Teens Appeal has received the support of councillor Debs Edwards, the Mayor of Reading, after she presented the first gifts to this year’s campaign.

Although it may be a little early to start talking about Christmas, dozens of hard-working volunteers are already collecting gifts for disadvantaged children.

Last year’s appeal saw presents delivered to 1,500 children in time for the festive season, providing respite to parents who may not be able to afford a sleigh-load of surprises.

Cllr Edwards said: “It is a real honour for me as the Mayor of Reading to launch this appeal. These children, when they receive a present from Toys and Teens, they are overwhelmed, because they did not expect anything.”

As well as being a sponsor of the Toys and Teens campaign, the Chronicle is also a donation point and we will be accepting new - or ‘as new’ gifts from our readers until December 2.

The appeal involves the gathering, sorting and distribution of thousands of toys, suitable for ages 0-16, to disadvantaged families across Reading.

One of last year’s grateful recipients wrote to Reading Family Aid to express their thanks, saying: “You helped me last year with donations to my three young girls.

“I was in a bad domestic violence relationship and since then he has been jailed. The girls are very upset; they know their dad is not going to be here for Christmas but they still love him and I understand that.

“I am really struggling, using the foodbank most weeks and I am panicking about Christmas and how I am going to afford it.

“Please would you be able to help me again this year? Last year you really made a difference.”

It is an alarming truth that there is still a great deal of poverty in areas of Reading.

Reading Family Aid would also like to thank fellow sponsors: Waitrose & Partners; Caversham Vehicle Hire; The Big Yellow Self Storage; and Austin Logistics for their support.

Visit: readingfamilyaid.org for more information.

Full list of donation points:

  • Sainsbury’s, Bath Road, RG31 1SA. Mon-Sat: 7am -10pm. Sun: 10am - 4pm
  • Caversham Homecraft, Church Road, RG4 8AU. Mon-Sat: 9am -5pm.
  • Caversham Library, Church Road, RG4 8AU. Mon & Wed: Closed, Tues & Fri: 9am- 5pm, Thurs: 1pm -7pm, Sat: 10am-3pm.
  • New Bridge Nursery Montague Street, RG4 5AU. Mon-Fri: 8am-4pm.
  • Crescent Centre, Warbler Drive, Earley, RG6 4HB - Mon-Thurs: 8.30am-6pm, Fri: 8.30am - 3.30pm.
  • Hillside Primary School, Rushey Way, RG6 4HQ. Mon-Friday 9am-3pm.
  • Lower Earley Library Chalfont Close, RG6 5HZ. Mon and Fri: 9.30am-5pm, Tue and Thurs: 9.30am-7pm, Sat: 9.30am-4pm.
  • Purley Farmers’ Market, The Barn, Beech Road, RG8 8DS. Saturday, November 10 only.
  • Big Yellow Storage, Rose Kiln Lane, RG2 0JZ. Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm, Sat: 9am - 6pm, Sun: 10am - 4pm.
  • Southcote Children’s Centre, Coronation Square Southcote, RG30 3QP. Mon-Thurs: 9-5pm, Fri: 9-4.30pm.
  • Southcote Library, RG30 3BA. Tue & Thurs: 9am-12pm & 1-4pm, Fri: 9am-12pm, Sat: 10am-1pm.
  • Spencers Wood Library, Basingstoke Road, RG6 7HS. Mon: 2.30pm–7pm, Tue: 2.30pm-5pm, Thurs: 10am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-5pm, Sat: 10am- 12.30pm.
  • Norcot Early Years Centre, Lyndhurst Road, RG30 6UB. Mon-Fri: 8.30am-4pm.
  • Co-op Tilehurst, School Road, RG31 5AR. Mon-Sat: 7am -10pm, Sun: 10am-4pm.
  • Tilehurst Library, School Road, RG31 6AS. Mon & Fri: 9am - 5pm, Tue: 9-11, Thurs: 9am-7pm. Sat: 9.30-4pm.
  • Birch Copse Primary School, Wittenham Avenue, RG31 5LN. Mon-Fri: 9.15am-2.45pm.
  • Reading Voluntary Action, 3rd Floor, Reading Central Library, RG1 3BQ. Mon-Fri: 10am-4pm.
  • Sainsbury’s, Friar Street, RG1 1DX. Mon-Sat: 7am-9pm, Sun 11am-5pm.
  • Civic Centre, Bridge Street, RG1 2LU. Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm.
  • The Reading Chronicle, RG1 2LU. Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm.
  • Reading Farmers’ Market, Great Knollys Street, RG1 7HD. Sat: 8.30am-12 noon on November 17 and December 1 only.
  • World Shop, London Street, RG1 4PS. Mon-Fri: 9.30am-6pm.
  • Interserve, Ruscombe Park, Twyford RG10 9JU. Mon-Fri: 8.30am-5pm.
  • Battle Library, Oxford Road, RG30 1EE. Tue: 1-7pm, Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9-12, Sat: 10am-3pm.
  • Winnersh Primary, Greenwood Grove, RG41 5LH. Mon-Fri: 10am-2pm.
  • Willow Bank Junior School, Duffield Road, RG5 4RW. Mon-Fri: 8.30am-4.30pm.
  • Woodley Library, Headley Road, RG5 4JA. Mon: 9am-1pm, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9am-5pm, Thurs: 9am-7pm. Sat: 9.30am-4pm. Sun: 10.30am-4pm.
  • The Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, RG5 4JZ. Mon-Sat: 9am-5pm.