THE WINDOW to donate to Southend Council's twelfth annual Toy Drive is closing this week as they issue a final plea for generous gift donations for those in need.
The successful initiative sees new toys and other products donated to children in need this festive season, having seen more than 40,000 donations reach more than 18,000 children and young people in the past 11 years.
This scheme runs until Friday, as the council issue a last minute plea for the most needed gifts before December 12, giving volunteers time to wrap and distribute gifts in time for Christmas.
Daniel Cowan, Labour leader of Southend Council, said: "We always welcome and need more donations, specifically toys for baby’s under 2, and we're very low on gifts for girls over 15.
"When donating, think about what you’d buy for someone you know and tell the staff at the partnered toy shops who you want to buy for."
The Toy Drive is seeking new toys, vouchers, toiletry sets, selection packs and stationary items that are all eligible for donation, where staff sort presents to children by age, gender and interest.
Contributors can purchase gifts partnered toy shops, including Argosy Toys, London Road, and Toys N Tuck, Queens Road, where council elves will collect them.
Individual donations can also be dropped at The Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre, Garons Park, and The Forum, Elmer Approach.
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Mr Cowan added: "It's amazing to see it behind the scenes - the act of giving is absolutely amazing, and the joy it will bring to someone going through a difficult time this Christmas.
"It's a massive operation with thousands of donations every year, and whilst we haven’t yet done a final count for this year, we have more business involved that ever before and donations keep on coming.
"We have community groups helping with wrapping and council staff and partners giving up their time - hard graft goes into it with staff here from dawn till dusk, so a massive shoutout to wrappers.
"Clearly this is an operation straight out of the North pole, and our elves have got it down to a fine art form with every present organised and laid out, then wrapped and ready to gift to a child in need this Christmas."
For any questions, contact 01702 215841 or email ToyDrive@southend.gov.uk.
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