Gazette readers set up cracking Easter for needy kids

Gazette readers and local businesses have helped serve up over 3,500 chocolate treats – worth over £12,000 – in our annual Easter Egg Appeal.

Every year, The Gazette and Hope 4 Kidz charity asks readers to step up for our Easter Egg Appeal – to provide a treat for some of our most vulnerable children and - once again - you have answered that call.

The eggs have already been delivered to local charities, refuges, homeless units, hospitals and special needs centres in time for Easter Sunday.

Viv Watts, chief executive of Hope 4 Kidz, was at Sunderland Royal Hospital on Thursday to hand out chocolate treats to young patients.

She said: “People in the area have again been so very generous, which is amazing considering the current economic climate and how much chocolate has increased in price.

“Times are hard both in business and people’s home lives but my heartfelt thanks go to everyone who donated an Easter gift to help make children smile on Easter Sunday when they receive their Eggs.”

“It comes with some sadness that some children are in hospital at this special time so it was a pleasure to help our Easter Bunny distribute eggs to the children on the wards at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

“Easter Eggs and gifts been also been sent to the Great North Children’s Hospital, Palmer Hospital, South Tyneside District hospital, refugee centres, and special needs and homeless units, some 40 organisations in all.

“Each and every one of you who got involved has made a real difference to a child somewhere in the area."

Ian Arkle, Gazette print editor, said: “Our readers always amaze us with their generosity and, this year, they have delivered again.

“We cannot thank people enough for all the donations which have helped to make our appeal so successful and bring some much needed joy to some of our most poorly and vulnerable youngsters."

Dozens of businesses in the area also got behind in the appeal this year – providing drop off points or promoting it among their staff and clients.

Viv added: “Local companies and organisations have, again, been hugely supportive.

"My thanks go to them all, with a special mention for the volunteers from Seimens Energy and Sunderland College who helped distribute the eggs.”

The firms and organisations who supported the appeal in South Tyneside included Café Mio, in Sunderland Road, Asda South Shields and the The Gym Group, in Crossgate, South Shields.

The appeal was run in conjunction with the Gazette’s sister paper, The Sunderland Echo and was also supported by Adecco, Aident Seating, Arriva, Asda in Grangetown and Washington, Assett55, Barclays Bank, Barclays Call Centre, Christ College Academy, ESPA, Hays Travel, HSBC Bank, IPS Adhesives, John Lewis & Partners,Managed Work Place Solutions Ltd, Morrisons Seaburn, Peter Heron, Poundland the Gateway Retail Park, Rolls Royce Washington, Sainsburys at Silksworth and Wessington Way, Siemens Energy, St Pauls Primary School, Sunderland City Hall & The Beem, Sunderland University, Sunderland College, The BIC, The Hub Washington, Virgin Money in Fawcett Street, and Volker Stevin Wates Construction