Christmas gifts to wing their way to children in need

Children facing a Christmas with out cheer are to be given a gift thanks to a charity team who have turned their attention to helping those most in need.
Peoples Angels from Kylie Strasenburgh, Lynn Davis and Alison David helping chrildren receive Christmas giftsPeoples Angels from Kylie Strasenburgh, Lynn Davis and Alison David helping chrildren receive Christmas gifts
Peoples Angels from Kylie Strasenburgh, Lynn Davis and Alison David helping chrildren receive Christmas gifts

The People’s Angels Selling Group has launched a festive campaign to collect toys, clothes and other items to wrap up ready for December 25.

Leaders have been working in conjunction with health visitors across South Tyneside, who have drawn up a list of families who have youngsters who will benefit.

Peoples Angels Lynn Davis and Chris Gibson helping children receive Christmas gifts.Peoples Angels Lynn Davis and Chris Gibson helping children receive Christmas gifts.
Peoples Angels Lynn Davis and Chris Gibson helping children receive Christmas gifts.
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So far more than 50 have been identified, but that number is expected to rise as the health workers note down families in the lead up to Christmas Day.

Around £800 in donations and items have been collected so far in addition to presents, while students at South Tyneside College have also packed up shoe boxes filled with items.

A Christmas fair was hosted at The Bamburgh pub in South Shields, while another will be held on Thursday at The Mechanics Arms in South Shields.

Babies aged from two months up to 18-years-old have been added to the list, with many of them aged around 14 and 15.

Peoples Angels Lynn Davis and Chris Gibson helping children receive Christmas gifts.Peoples Angels Lynn Davis and Chris Gibson helping children receive Christmas gifts.
Peoples Angels Lynn Davis and Chris Gibson helping children receive Christmas gifts.
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Lynn Davis has been running the collection alongside Sue Stephenson, Alison Davis, Kylie Stransenburgh, Mick Hannay, Melissa Ivory and Mel Cook, with the Facebook page followed by more than 1,600 people.

They launched the collection after they began to think about what to get their loved ones for Christmas and after they were contacted by a health visitor who wanted to help out a particular family who were facing a financial struggle.

Lynn, 51, who lives in South Shields and works as a support worker for South Tyneside Council, said: “We’ve identified 56 children so far, but it’s going up all the time.

“I think this has really helped raise awareness because we now know there are children out they that haven’t got anything.”

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The organisation, which started out supporting the Sunderland-based Grace House charity for children’s respite care as Grace’s Angels before expanding to help others, has backed support a series of projects, including buying an electric scooter for a lady who is undergoing cancer treatment and worked alongside the Hebburn Helps community foodbank and Hope North East.

The Christmas fair at The Mechanics Arms will run from 7pm to 11pm and will feature a host of stalls including a sale of craft items.

Donations can be given via The Children’s Christmas Fund through GoFundMe http://bit.ly/2gH9TTq