Give a less fortunate child a gift this Christmas with these local toy appeals

This Christmas, consider buying an extra present for a less fortunate child, and donate to one of the local toy appeals.

If you are organising a toy appeal in the Rochdale borough this year, you can email news@rochdaleonline.co.uk to be included in this article.

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The council’s staff-run ‘Giving Back’ charity

They ask residents and staff to buy one extra present – a new, unwrapped gift suitable for a child between 0-16 years-old. Due to national coronavirus restrictions, the normal drop off points won’t be open this year so you are being asked to post your gift, or order online and send it straight to the council’s main office, Number One Riverside, by Friday 4 December.

Drop off points are also available at Tesco Rochdale as well as Co-Op stores in Milnrow, Castleton and Littleborough.

Council staff, who distributed over 2,500 toys last year, will make sure they reach the borough’s less fortunate children in time for Christmas Day. 

Since 2015 the appeal has provided much needed festive cheer for thousands of children and teenagers.

Read more: Toy appeal asks for your support to help make sure local children have a gift to open this ChristmasPublished: 09 November 2020

To make donating even easier, Rochdale toy shop ToysARoo on Howard Place has teamed up with Rochdale Business Improvement District (BID) to help. You can order a gift online from their website, select ‘pick up’ as your delivery option, type ‘Giving Back’ in the ‘add a note to order’ box and BID staff will collect purchases and deliver them to the appeal for you.

Read more: Businesses step in to help charity Christmas Toy AppealPublished: 19 November 2020

 

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Heywood Christmas Toy Appeal

Helping children in Heywood up to Year 6 age (10/11 years old), the appeal has grown each year allowing many more families to create a special Christmas. The toy appeal encourages everyone from local families and schools to businesses and community groups to all give something to help others at Christmas, from new toys to pre-loved or unused gifts.

If you're struggling this year, just sign up before 30 November to use Heywood's free toy shop - helping Heywood families to give their kids a happier Christmas morning.

Read more: Heywood Christmas Toy Appeal launches website so it can help more children this ChristmasPublished: 28 October 2020

 

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Donate a toy/gift this Christmas

This year, share your generosity with families in need; donate an unwrapped toy or gift suitable for ages 3 months to 16 years. Gifts will be sanitised before being wrapped and distributed before Christmas. Name tags and messages for those who have registered will be added.

Please donate by 20 December.

You are welcome to call for a contactless collection, and you can also register for a gift if you are in need this year.

Please contact Sanya Karim 07492 424648 for more information.
 

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Rochdale Young Carers and The Rochdale Acute Needs Trust

Christmas goodies 2020 are requested this year, which may be gifts for mum, dad, girl aged 12 and over, boy aged 12 and over. Please wrap them in Christmas paper and indicate the category (for example, mum).

Donations of cash, vouchers (Tesco, Morrison’s, ASDA), cheques made payable to ‘Friends of Families’ are also very welcome. These will be used for gifts for children under 12, Christmas dinners, other Christmas goodies and fresh foods. A collecting box (not cash please) for gifts is at the back of Christ Church, Healey, ready for delivery to Lock 50 by 6 December.

 

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Petrus Christmas Gift Appeal

For the past five years, Rochdale-based homelessness charity Petrus has held a gift appeal for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, supporting local schools and children’s services in Rochdale and the North West, and adorned a Christmas tree in the store with the names and ages of children who are unlikely to receive a Christmas gift.

While the store remains temporarily closed due to national lockdown restrictions, they have adapted the appeal to ensure children do not go without this December.

Members of the public are invited to buy a new gift for a child aged between 0 months to 16 years, priced around £5 to £10, and arrange an appointment with Petrus’ team to deliver to the store.

Drop off appointments for the Christmas Gift Appeal are available all day Thursdays and Fridays, but they may be able to be flexible. To arrange a drop off, call 01706 341189 or Store Supervisor Pam on 07587 770 969 (between 10am to 3pm, Monday – Friday).

Gifts can also be posted directly to their Store on Hamer Lane but please take into consideration delivery time. Deadline for getting gifts to the store is Friday 4 December.

Anyone making donations are asked to bring the presents unwrapped but placed in a plastic bag, with a sticker or tag stating the age and gender the gift inside is for to minimise handling. However, people can provide wrapping paper if they wish.

Alternatively, Petrus are also accepting online donations at https://virginmoneygiving.com/fund/giftappeal and will use the money to purchase presents on your behalf.

For more information, contact the Petrus Store:

• Petrus Community Store, Unit 1, Hamer Lane, Rochdale, OL16 2UL
• Tel:  01706 341189
• Email: petrus.people@petrus.org.uk
• Web: www.petrus.org.uk/news/petrus-christmas-gift-appeal-2020-3828