Organisers of The Mayor’s Toy Appeal, which has been running in the town for more than 30 years, have said they will be able to ensure 550 children will get gifts from Santa this year.
Karen Collins said the Toy Appeal received donated gifts ranging from Lego sets and soft toys to radio-controlled cars and Barbie dolls.
She said: “Each child will get three or four gifts with a main present and some smaller gifts such as books. And thanks to the people of Tunbridge Wells we can now ensure 550 children will get Christmas presents this year.”
Mayor, Cllr Chris Woodward, who backed this year’s appeal, said: “”It is heart-warming to see the generosity of people reflected in the gifts given to the Mayor’s Toy Appeal, and the great work of Karen Collins and her team of volunteers in making gift packs ready for distribution to families whose Christmases will be made a bit brighter.
“I personally enjoyed seeing school children step forward to bring their kind ‘offerings’, and certainly that would also have brightened their souls.”
Toy Appeal needs you!
THE ORGANISER of the Mayor’s Toy Appeal, Karen Collins, is to step down next year and is seeking somebody to replace her.
Ms Collins, who has been helping the mayor with the appeal for the last six years, said: “I will be stepping down after next year, so I am hoping to find somebody to step up and run the appeal.
“We are also looking for somewhere we can store the toys so we are hoping to find a business that has a large storeroom or small warehouse we can borrow between November to mid- January,” she added.
Anybody who can help the Mayor’s Toy Appeal has been asked to contact Karen Collins at karen.collins@mayorstoyappeal.co.uk
