You've made Christmas special for 4,500 needy children

Your response to the Shields Gazette Echo Toy Appeal – run in partnership with Wearside charity Hope 4 Kidz – has been staggering, and we applaud your generosity.

Despite the cost of living crisis, you have donated over 4,500 presents – worth an estimated £35,000 – to the appeal, run in conjunction with our sister paper the Sunderland Echo

The aim was to make sure youngsters in the area will wake up on Christmas Day to a gift they would otherwise not have received and – despite

the economic uncertainty – you answered the call to buy one extra present and drop them off at collection points.

Viv Watts, chief executive of Hope 4 Kidz, said: "Once again, I am astounded at the quality and quantity of the gifts from all of the people who have donated a to our appeal this Christmas.

"Considering the economic climate people have still managed to support others who are less fortunate and all of you have made a real difference to thousands of children.”

She added: “It was a pleasure to attend Sunderland Royal Hospital and be able to drop off presents for the first time in three years and meet some of the young patients.

“I can tell everyone that their smiles have made your support and generosity so worthwhile.

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

In all, presents have been delivered to over 40 over organisations, including South Tyneside District Hospital, Sunderland Royal Hospital, South Tyneside Refuge, Pennywell Community Centre, Bernicia, St Marys Church, Peace of Mind, Places for People, Academy 360, South Hylton Primary, and the Great North Children's Hospital.

Viv added: “These gifts will make a huge difference to those families who may not otherwise be able to celebrate Christmas.

"Thank you. We could not have done it without you."

Gazette editor, Ross Robertson, said “Every year we ask our readers to step up at Christmas and help those who are less fortunate.

“This year – and despite the challenges so many people are facing - you have rallied round and we cannot thank you enough for making the appeal the success that it is.”

He added: “It is still a very difficult time for a great many people, but our readers have dug deep to help those less fortunate an give youngsters something special this Christmas.

"We applaud you all."

Drop off points for the appeal were at Café Mio in Sunderland Road, South Shields, Morrisons supermarket, South Shields, The Gym South Shields, Adkins & Cheurfi, Hayes Travel, Maxim FM, Peter Heron, Sainsburys at Silksworth, Washington and Wessington Way,

Santander, Siemens ,The BIC at Washington and Sunderland, Virgin Money, Wilkinsons, Buzl, Everyone Active centres at Houghton, Hetton, Washington and Silksworth; The Northeast Learning Trust, Archers Park Care Home, and Superior Recruitment.

Viv added: “Hope 4 Kidz could not have done the appeal this year without support from The Gazette, our wonderful supporters and volunteers from Northern Gas Networks