Aroundtown Magazine Nov/Dec 2023 edition

FEELING FESTIVE
The
Season
of
Goodwill
Christmas is a time for giving, and here in
South Yorkshire we have so many amazing
people who give their time to helping others.
Here are some ways you can give to good causes this festive period.
The elves are busy working at
Rotherham Christmas Toy Appeal
The Rotherham Christmas Toy
Appeal is running again this year
to make sure no child or young
person goes without a gift to
open on Christmas morning.
The annual appeal is co-ordinated by Ann
Levick of Families First, plus a team of dedicated
elves who all volunteer to ensure the children and
young people of Rotherham have a happy, joyful
Christmas day.
42 aroundtownmagazine.co.uk
What started as redistributing second-hand
toys in the 1990s has since grown to an appeal
which provided gifts to over 2,100 children and
young people last year. The Christmas Toy Appeal
receives requests from professionals working
closely with families so they can identify those
most in need.
This Christmas will be harder than ever for
many Rotherham families. The rising cost of living,
mortgage or rent increases, gas and electric rates,
and food prices have taken its toll.
However, Ann has every faith in the people of
Rotherham, who have come together year after
year to support the toy appeal. There are people
with little to give who still find some way to give
what they can to the appeal.
They also have the backing of Parkgate
Shopping, as well as the local media, businesses,
churches, and schools.
If you would like to get involved, the next time
you’re at Parkgate Shopping Centre look for the
giving trees which have tags on them. Pick a tag,
purchase a gift for that age range, and hand it in
– unwrapped - to any store or the security office.
You can also hand gifts in to your local library.
The elves will then ‘go shopping’ from the
donations and match the toys or gifts up with the
recipients from their referral list based on what
that child has said they may like from Santa. Ann
and the team work extremely hard to ensure all
children have a gift, soft toy and stocking filler, so
even the smallest donations will go a long way to
a child’s happiness at Christmas.
What a lovely feeling waking up on Christmas
morning knowing you have helped a Rotherham
child or young person feel special.
Contact Ann via email
ann.familiesfirst@gmail.com
to get further information about how your
school, business, or organisation can
get involved.