COULD you help ensure an under-privileged child in Reading is not left without a present to open on Christmas morning?

The dedicated team at Reading Family Aid are calling on the public to donate gifts and help a child in need this festive season.

The charity’s Toys & Teens Appeal is back for 2022, sponsored by The Reading Chronicle, and urging support at such a difficult time for many families.

Generous supporters are being urged to donate new and nearly new toys at 28 donation points across Reading and the surrounding areas. These toys and gifts will be distributed to under-privileged children in Reading and the surrounding area, who otherwise wouldn’t receive a present this Christmas.

Through social workers, schools and organisations, Reading Family Aid are able to identify children who are the most in need of support from the Toys and Teens Appeal each year.

One such group is Grassrootz, a collection of volunteers who run youth clubs for underprivileged children in Reading. The group was set up by Kelvin Husbands, when he noticed there was no provision for young people after school. To keep these young people out of gangs and give them somewhere to go, Kelvin has now set up three clubs across Reading.

He said: “The cost of living crisis has really affected some of our young people. We have noticed lots of children coming to the club hungrier than before. We have bread and spreads available in case a child is hungry but in recent weeks we are going through double the amount of loaves.”

When talking about the annual Toys & Teens Appeal Kelvin said: “This appeal is important, especially this year with the cost of living rising.

“Christmas is an extremely difficult time and whilst most of us look forward to this time of year, lots of families feel under an awful amount of stress and pressure. The expectations and demands on families are huge and this is an additional pressure that some of them feel really guilty about as they can’t give their children the Christmas they would like to.

“Last year, after receiving presents from this appeal, the children we support said it was the best Christmas they had ever had.”

If you can spare it, please consider donating a new or nearly new toy to the appeal this year. Donations can be dropped off at any of the 28 donation points listed below.

If you can’t donate a toy, please consider donating to the GoFundMe appeal at gofund.me/5038d766.

The money raised buys new presents for age groups that aren’t provided for from donations.

Visit readingfamilyaid.org/donate-toys for how to donate and to find out what can (and can’t) be used.

LISTED: Drop-off points for donation in and around Reading

  • Caversham Homecraft, Church Road - Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
  • Fourbears Books, Prospect Street - Tues-Sat 9.30am - 4.30pm, Sat 11am - 2.30pm
  • Caversham Library, Church Road - Tues&Fri from 9am-5pm, Thurs from 1pm-7pm, Sat 10am-3pm
  • New Bridge Nursery, Montague Street - Mon to Fri 9am-3pm
  • The Heights Primary School,Upper Woodcote Road - Mon to Fri 8.30am-3.30pm
  • Earley Crescent Resource Ctr, Warbler Drive - Mon-Thurs 8.30am-6pm, Fri 8.30am-3.30pm, Sat 8.30am-noon
  • St Barnabas Church, Grove Road - Tues 8.30am to 11am, Weds 10.30am to 11.30am, Sun 9am to 11am
  • Christchurch Centre, Reading Road -Mon to Fri 9am-3pm
  • Lower Earley Library, Chalfont Close - Thurs 9.30am to 7pm, Sat 9.30am to 4pm
  • The Club at Mapledurham, Chazey Heath - Mon to Fri 6.30am to 10pm, Sat and Sun 6.30am to 7pm
  • Big Yellow Storage,Rose Kiln Lane - Mon to Fri 8.30am to 5.30pm, Sat 9am to 5.30pm, Sun 10am to 4pm
  • Leighton Park School     Shinfield Road (Reception) - Mon to Fri 8a to 5pm (Term time only)
  • Southcote Library, Southcote Community Hub, Coronation Square - Tues 9am to midday and 1pm to 7pm, Thurs 9am to midday and 1pm to 4pm, Fri 9am to midday, Sat 10am to 1pm
  • Birch Copse Primary School, Wittenham Avenue - 9am to 3pm (Term time only)
  • Co-op Food, School Road - Mon to Sat 7am to 10pm, Sun 10am to 4pm
  • Tilehurst Library, School Road - Mon 9am to 5pm, Tues 9am to midday, Thurs 1pm to 7pm, Sat 10am to 3pm
  • Civic Centre, Bridge Street - Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm
  • Reading Voluntary Action, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square - Mon, Thurs, Fri 10am to 5pm
  • Roc Search, King’s Road - Non to Fri 9am-6pm
  • Battle Library, Oxford Road - Tues 1pm to 7pm, Thurs 9am to 5pm, Fri 9am to midday, Sat 10am to 3pm
  • Tesco Extra, Portman Road - Mon to Sat 6am to midday, Sun 10am to 4pm
  • Winnersh Primary School,Greenwood Grove - Mon to Fri 10am to 2pm