“MY children wouldn’t have a happy Christmas without them.”
This is what one mum has said as she spoke of her relief that Reading Toys & Teens gift appeal have offered support to her and others once again this Christmas.
Reading Family Aid’s Toys & Teens appeal, sponsored by the Reading Chronicle, is back for another year and hopes to support families at what will be an even more difficult year for many.
More families than ever are being plunged in to poverty with the cost-of-living crisis having far-reaching consequences, one of the mums supported by the appeal explains what it means to her. She said: “I am a single mum of three children. My husband is in prison for assaulting us. I am finding it increasingly difficult to manage both financially and mentally.
“The Toys & Teens Appeal has helped me for a few years now. Each time they reach out to offer help and support, I just feel huge relief.
“My children wouldn’t have a happy Christmas without them. They provide my three children with toys at a time when it is just expected to happen.
“The pressure as a parent with a low income is immense. It gives me anxiety worrying whether I can provide the day to day essentials like food, electricity, gas etc let alone worry if I can get what my children want or what their friends are all talking about for Christmas.
“But thanks to the Toys and Teens Appeal some of that pressure is removed. I really don’t know what I would do without them.”
The mum of three urged those who can to donate to the gift appeal, adding: “It makes such a huge difference to families like mine. It means that my children can have presents at Christmas and tell their friends what they have had, rather than having to admit they have had nothing.”
Each Christmas, the Toys and Teens Appeal helps ensure that children who would not otherwise receive a single present, have something to open on Christmas morning. Last year, over 2,500 children received a gift at Christmas, through the generous donations of supporters.
To support the campaign you can donate a gift to the dropoff points below - more details on what can be donated at readingfamilyaid.org/donatetoys If you cannot donate a gift the campaign also has an online GoFundMe page to help buy new presents for age groups that have less among the donations: gofund.me/5038d766
FULL LIST: Toy drop off points
Full list of drop-off points for donation:
Caversham Homecraft, Church Road, Caversham - Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm
Caversham Library, Church Road, Caversham - Tues and Fri 9am to 5pm, Thurs 1pm to 7pm, Sat 10am to 3pm
New Bridge Nursery, Montague Street, Caversham - Mon to Fri 9am to 3pm
The Heights Primary School, Upper Woodcote Road, Caversham - Mon to Fri 9am to 3pm
Earley Crescent Resource Centre, Warbler Drive, Earley - Mon to Thurs 8.30am to 6pm, Fri 8.30am to 3pm, Sat 8.30am to midday
St Barnabas Church, Grove Road, Emmer Green - Tues 8.30am to 11am, Weds 10.30am to 11.30am, Sun 9am to 11am
Lower Earley Library, Chalfont Close, Lower Earley - Thurs 9.30am to 7pm, Sat 9.30am to 4pm
The Club at Mapledurham, Chazey Heath, Mapledurham - Mon to Fri 6.30am to 10pm, Sat and Sun 6.30am to 7pm
Big Yellow Storage, Rose Kiln Lane, Reading - Mon to Fri 8.30am to 5.30pm, Sat 9am to 5.30pm, Sun 10am to 4pm
Leighton Park School, Shinfield Road, Reading - Mon to Fri 8a to 5pm (Term time only)
Southcote Library, Coronation Square, Southcote - Tues 9am to midday and 1pm to 7pm, Thurs 9am to midday and 1pm to 4pm, Fri 9am to midday, Sat 10am to1pm
Birch Copse Primary School, Wittenham Avenue, Tilehurst - 9am to 3pm (Term time only)
Coop Food, School Road, Tilehurst - Mon to Sat 7am to 10pm, Sun 10am to 4pm
Tilehurst Library, School Road, Tilehurst - Mon 9am to 5pm, Tues 9am to midday, Thurs 1pm to 7pm, Sat 10am to 3pm
Civic Centre, Bridge Street, Reading - Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm
Reading Voluntary Action, Reading Central Library, Reading - Mon, Thurs, Fri 10am to 5pm
Battle Library, Oxford Road, Reading - Tues 1pm to 7pm, Thurs 9am to 5pm, Fri 9am to midday, Sat 10am to 3pm
Tesco Extra, Portman Road, Reading - Mon to Sat 6am to midday, Sun 10am to 4pm
Winnersh Primary School, Greenwood Grove, Winnersh - Mon to Fri 10am to 2pm
The Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, Woodley - Mon to Thurs 9am to 4.30pm, Fri 9am to 4pm
Whitley Library, Northumberland Avenue, Whitley - Tues 9am to midday and 1pm to 7pm, Thurs 9am to midday and 1pm to 4pm, Sat 10am to 1pm
Willow Bank Junior School, Duffield Road, Woodley - Mon to Fri 9am to 3pm
Woodley Library, Headley Road, Woodley - Mon 9am to 1pm, Tues, Weds and Fri 9am to 5pm, Thurs 9am to 7pm, Sat 9.30am to 4pm, Sun 10.30am to 4pm
Please check with individual drop-off sites for changes to opening times.
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