Organisers of a Winter Toy Appeal which distributes new toys to thousands of children experiencing extreme poverty in London are bracing themselves for the toughest year yet.
The appeal, run by the Local Buyers Club shop-local discount card, is in its eighth year and organisers say the challenges are greater than ever.
Jenna Fansa, appeal founder and co-founder of the Local Buyers Club, said: “It feels like the perfect storm this year – we’re expecting more referrals than ever as families struggle with rising fuel and food costs, cuts to Universal Credit and an end to furlough. And traders are experiencing supply issues due to a shortage of HGV drivers and a backlog of shipping containers - so we need to be more organised than ever.
“We are pleading with the community to buy a gift for a child experiencing hardship this year so that every child has something special on Christmas morning and we need them to order as soon as possible. We’d also love support from companies and would love them to circulate the appeal with colleagues and hold fundraisers for us.”
Supporters can order via toy appeal wish lists which deliver straight to the agencies or money donated to the Appeal’s Go Fund Me page will be spent solely in independent stores. The toy appeal is sponsored by Location Location estate agency. This year the Appeal offers a wish list with independent toy shop.
Volunteers from E5 Babybank will be helping the Local Buyers Club team distribute the toys throughout the capital via children’s centres, schools, hostels, refuges, migrant centres, children’s centres and more.
Last year’s appeal provided new toys for more than 5,600 children in poverty and generated more than £25,000 of trade with independent shops. Almost 24,000 children have received a gift through the appeal since it launched in 2014.
JOIN THE LOCAL BUYERS CLUB with the code TOYAPPEALFIVE to join for half price and they'll donate £5 towards the Appeal. www.localbuyersclub.com/joinnow
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