The Isle of Wight Christmas Toy Appeal is back for 2022, with the aim of spreading festive cheer to thousands of less fortunate children across the Island.
Running until 9th December, the appeal is looking for new toys (worth at least £10). Up to 3,000 children every year benefit from the appeal, which is run by Isle of Wight Radio and supported by sponsors Red Funnel.
Since beginning more than a decade ago, over 30,000 gifts have been donated by generous Islanders. This year, securing donations is even more vital, given the cost of living crisis the country is facing.
Claire John, Managing Director at Isle of Wight Radio, has said:
“Everyone at Isle of Wight Radio is delighted to be bringing back the Christmas Toy Appeal for another year. We know from our previous appeals just how important it is to the Island and those who are less fortunate.
“We’ve been involved from the very start and have seen first-hand the incredible difference it has made to thousands of young lives.
“We saw an amazing amount of donations last year — and we’d love to do even better this time round and bring some smiles to faces this Christmas. It means so much to have the support of Islanders. Thank you!”
Those who benefit from the appeal include young carers, children in hospital, sick youngsters, bereaved children or those challenged by poverty and housing problems.
How you can donate or get involved
The Toy Appeal is seeking NEW toys suitable for children aged 0-16. They can be donated at official drop-off points. These include:
● Isle of Wight Radio
● Tesco, Ryde
● Morrisons, Newport
● The Entertainer, Newport
● Asda, Newport
● Red Funnel (West Wight Fast Cat Terminal)
● Red Funnel (East Cowes Terminal)
● Pocket full of pebbles (Cowes)
● Inner Space Storage (Cowes)
● Choice Carpets (Lake)
● West Wight Sports Centre (Freshwater)
● Toymaster (Ryde and Shanklin)
● East Cowes Town Hall
● Home Bargains (Newport)
Want to go a step further and host a fundraiser? A Christmas jumper day at work? A school mufti day? Every donation counts.
Fran Collins, Chief Executive of Red Funnel, said:
“Helping ensure every child on the Island has a special Christmas is really important to us, so we’re humbled to support the Isle of Wight Radio Toy Appeal and turn our East and West Cowes terminals into Toy Appeal drop-off points.
“We’d like to say a big, advance thank you to all those able to contribute and help make Christmas special for these deserving young people. Your kindness and generosity will make a difference.”
Perhaps it would be wise to give a little prezzie to the parents of these impovrished familes this year to.
A booklet telling them how like the rest of society knows, how to get free rent, free council tax, child allowance, child tax and if working just !6 hours a week, working tax credits to then make their money up to better than most workers get, AND get subsidised rent etc too.
THEN they would not be in this situation that they can’t afford to buy for their children at Christmas.
Perhaps a packet of condoms with the info telling them contraception is free to prevent bringing their ‘poverty’ onto more lives in the future would be good to.
and for all the sponging dinghy people, the gift of a single ticket to france would be the best idea
Ivy, how right you are.
These idiots giving to the needy now will be the same fools complaining about them within the decade as they grow up to become vile criminals, drugs, drink, and driving stolen cars, and breeding from puberty upwards.
The more they are given the more they expect, and never content, they take from the hand that feeds them as soon as old enough.
They don’t see it as kindness, but weakness, The ONLY lessons learned from their vile parent or parents IF known.
Give nothing imo, as we give enough now via our taxes and, as you say they pay for very little, free school dinners, nhs prescription, dental car, school transport, so WHAT do these waster spend on?
perhaps the parents that keep having kids should give up smoking drinking or drugs or better still get a job
As can be seen by the true but unpalatable comments to those sat at home for all or half the week, the ‘truth hurts’.
When the workers have come home wet, cold and fed up, then a more realistic point of view to thumbs up may occur.
Easy for those on such benefits to diss the truth for they don’t want ANY of the gravy from the train known about or spilt. They love to play the victim, it is very very lucractive.
Says someone sat at home on their arse.
Perhaps we should think about the children , it is not their fault, and also in lot’s families not the parents fault .
Yes there are spongers out there but don’t take it out on the children.
If you don’t like it don’t donate !!!!
The children in most cases of selfish parents, WHO it must be remembered all get the SAME income as other parents, as the DHSS do not discriminate on what they pay out to different people, usually grow up very quickly in such households.
And it is very often these children who are vandals, criminals, and causing those kind, or perhaps stupid enough to give to them an awful life if living anywhere near them.
Just what point DO we start to blame a person for their actions, for their useless parents were children not so long back.
The DHSS provides plenty for those with children, and WE fund that, so why give again to parents who don’t put THEIR own children first.
Some RARE cases may be deserving but the state gives normally