John Healey has paid tribute to all those involved in Rotherham’s long running Christmas Toy Appeal.
The local MP visited the appeal’s warehouse in Parkgate and helped volunteers put together present packs for children.
The annual Christmas campaign has been supporting Rotherham families for over 30 years and thanks to the public’s generosity, last year’s toy appeal meant they could provide presents to 2,254 local children.
John Healey MP said: “Thank you to Ann, Janet, Billy and Jenny who showed me around the Rotherham Christmas Toy Appeal warehouse in Parkgate and talked me through how they put together and select items for the gift packs.
“It’s astonishing to see the amount of donations made by people across our area, without them the appeal wouldn’t be possible.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to all the volunteers; they work so hard collecting donations and working with different organisations who make referrals to the charity at Christmas and throughout the year.
“Thank you for helping to make sure that no child goes without a present at Christmas.”
The appeal was originally launched in 1991 and is now run by the charity Families First.
People can support the appeal by picking up a tag from the giving trees at Parkgate Shopping, buying a gift for the age and gender that they’ve chosen and then handing it in unwrapped to any store at Parkgate Shopping or at any Rotherham Library.
As well as organising the annual Rotherham Toy Appeal, volunteers at Families First dedicate countless hours each week to help distribute emergency clothing packs, homewares, and second-hand toys to people aged 0-99 across Rotherham who are without basic items.
They received charity status earlier this year and have recently received a King’s Award for Voluntary Service – the equivalent of an MBE and the highest award for voluntary groups.
For more information about the toy appeal or donating items to Rotherham Families First, you can contact organiser Ann Levick via email at ann.familiesfirst@gmail.com