Children's Toy appeal launched

ONE thousand children in Bolton might not have any presents to unwrap this Christmas.

As some families struggle to make ends meet, putting presents under the tree this Christmas is the furthest thing from their minds.

But you can help Father Christmas by donating to this year’s Bolton Lions Christmas Toy Appeal.

Now in it’s 36th year, the appeal helps prevent hundreds of the town’s youngsters waking up to sadness and disappointment on December 25.

Lions appeal co-ordinator John Crompton said: “I’m happy to say the people of Bolton have never let us down and we have never been in the situation where we have not had enough presents for the children that need them.”

The appeal calls for people to donate new, or second-hand toys in good condition, at drop-off points across the borough.It’s a sign of people’s generosity that 90 per cent of toys donated are brand new and have been bought specifically to donate to the appeal.

Bolton Lions then invites schools, social workers, children’s homes, churches and children’s centres to sign-up and let the Lions know how many families need help with getting Christmas gifts and the gender and age of each child in need to ensure they receive appropriate presents.

Mr Crompton said: “We try to ensure each child receives around six toys.”

Lions volunteers collect, sort and ‘sack-up’ the presents which are then delivered to the schools, churches and children’s homes where staff discreetly pass them on to the children’s carers ready for the big day.

Demand has increased over the decades and Mr Crompton attributes this to rising levels of deprivation in certain areas of Bolton.

“When the appeal began 36 years ago, we were providing toys for around 200 children. In more recent years, the average is around 1,000 children but in 2016 it was 1,299.”

He added: “At one school alone, we’ve had requests for presents for 77 children this Christmas.”

One area where the Lions struggle every year is in having gifts for older youngsters.

Mr Crompton said: “We have a cut-off age of 16 but when we are helping out whole families, there’s no way we wouldn’t provide gifts just because some of the members are 17 or 18. Smellies like Lynx or perfume are always popular gifts for that age group.”

Eleven churches across the borough are also involved in the appeal and hold a special service where congregations take along toys to donate.

Mr Crompton said: “I or another Lions member will go and speak at the services to explain how important the appeal is and to thank people for their generosity.”

He added: “My children are grown up now, and other Lions members are grandparents, but we all remember the delight that toys give to a child and how their faces light up on Christmas morning when they are unwrapping their presents.

“The appeal is a way of allowing other children to experience that happiness. The people of Bolton have always come through for us and I’m optimistic that they will be as generous as always this year.”

THE Bolton News has supported the Christmas Toy Appeal from the beginning and once again, you can bring your donated toys to our office at The Wellsprings, off Victoria Square.

Collection tubs will start going out to a number of other venues across the borough from next week.

The collection points are: Tesco Horwich, Mansell Way, Middlebrook.

Asda Astley Bridge, Moss Bank Way.

Asda Horwich, The Linkway, Horwich.

The Market Place, Bolton. Toby Carvery, Crompton Way.

Horwich Community Centre, Beaumont Road, Horwich.

Readeys Sports Trophies, 428 Chorley Old Road.

Hays Travel, 64 Market Street, Westhoughton.

Hays Travel, 72 Winter Hey Lane, Horwich. Wyevale Garden centre, Wigan Road, Bolton.

Boots Chemist, gates Shopping Centre, Bolton.OLTON Alexandra West Sales and Lettings, 469 Darwen Road, Bromley Cross Jeff James Hairshop, 528 Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge The Coffee Shop at The Triangle, Chorley Old Road.

Buchanan’s, 37 Winter Hey Lane, Horwich.