'Thank you': South Shields toy appeal makes Christmas special for 1,000s of needy kids

Gazette readers have again given tremendous backing to our annual Toy Appeal – run in partnership with children’s charity Hope 4 Kidz – and will make Christmas Day special for youngsters who might otherwise have woken up to nothing.

You have again answered the call to buy an extra present while out Christmas shopping and dropped them off at collection points in the area, and your generosity – at a time when things are hard for many people – has again been staggering.

Viv Watts, chief executive of Hope 4 Kidz, said: “The response to this year’s appeal has again been totally overwhelming.

"The generosity of people in our area is amazing.”

The charity has delivered the presents to a range of organisations despite the number of volunteers being hit by the flu epidemic and the value of this year’s presents has yet to be finalised.

It also prevented volunteers handing out the presents to children at local hospitals, although staff at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust – which runs South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital – kindly stepped in to play Santa.

Viv added: “People have given what they could afford for a very worthwhile cause and each and every one will be precious to these children.

“It was very disappointing this year not to get into the hospital and hand out the presents.

"It is one of my favourite days of the year but the main thing is that thousands of people again did their bit to help children who were in need and they will be opening presents tomorrow morning.

“From all at Hope 4 Kidz, we would like to say a huge thank you to all who have donated gifts and given their time to help with this year’s appeal.”

Local businesses which supported this year’s appeal by providing drop off points were Café Mio, in Sunderland Road, South Shields; Morrisons in Ocean Road, South Shields; The Gym Group, in Crossgate, South Shields and the Natwest Bank in King Street.

The appeal is being run in conjunction with the Gazette’s sister paper, the Sunderland Echo and there were also drop-off points at Hayes Travel in Vine Place; Barclays Bank, Morrisons Doxford, The Northeast BIC, Peter Heron Fulwell, Poundland at The Gateway Retail Park Newcastle Road; Sainsburys’ Silksworth and Wessington Way,Washington; Santander Bank; Seimens Energy, The Hub Washington, Rose Blake Anne-Marie Cavell, Magna Exteriors Sunderland, Christ College, Housing 21, GadCap Technical Solutions Washington, AESC UK Sunderland, and John Lewis

Gazette print editor, Ian Arkle, said “Every year we ask our readers play Secret Santa for children facing adversity and this year, you have again rallied round and our thanks go to you all.”

Viv added: “Without the help of the Shields Gazette and Sunderland Echo and all the other companies which have got involved, our small charity simply could not support the volume of requests for help we receive.

“Thank you all from everyone at Hope 4 Kidz and have a merry Christmas and a very happy and prosperous New Year.”