I’m proud of my teenage son for donating gifts to South Tyneside children in care
A Jarrow teenager has helped make Christmas for children in care.
Luke Hedley BCyA, from Jarrow, has helped give South Tyneside children in care a Christmas this festive season after he and his dad, Sean, went to drop off some gifts at South Shields Fire Station.
Fire crews are collecting toys and gifts for children in South Tyneside care homes but when the pair arrived, they saw that there was no other gifts.
Firefighters told Luke and Sean that they were the first to make a donation, leading to 14-year-old Luke issuing a rallying call for donations.
As a result, Sean sent some emails to businesses that share his place of work while Luke put a call out to his teammates at the South Tyneside Basketball Club.
The pair also appealed to the borough’s supermarkets to see if they would be willing to donate any sweet treats to the Christmas appeal - which saw more than 80 Cadbury’s selection boxes, jelly sweets, and more given for free.
Over the course of last weekend (Saturday, December 20, and Sunday, December 21) the pair made several trips to the fire station to drop off toys and sweets for the appeal.
Members of the public can also drop off gifts at the South Shields Fire Station, Lulu’s Hair Salon and Green Fingers Garden Centre as part of the appeal.