-

Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal gives 4,202 gifts to those in need this Christmas  

There will be more than 4,000 extra smiles this Christmas thanks to the kindness of communities across Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

Aylesbury Town Council worked in partnership with Tring Radio, Red Kite Radio and Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio to collect as many brand-new donated toys as possible for local charities and organisation to provide a gift to children in need this Christmas.

Donation stations were dotted all around Bucks and Herts from Amersham to Aylesbury and Tring to Thame.

The charities and local organisations who will benefit from the donations are:

  • Florence Nightingale Children’s Team Florrie’s
  • CHAT Children’s Respite
  • Young Carers Bucks
  • The Pepper Foundation
  • Go Holiday Club Southcourt
  • Paediatrics Bucks NHS Trust – Stoke Mandeville Hospital
  • MPS Society
  • Roman Park Community Trust

Due to the overwhelming response to the appeal Griffin Place Aylesbury, Life Link, Bucks Activity Project – Action For Children and Vineyard Church Storehouse Aylesbury will also benefit from toy donations.

The Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal toy total reached a whopping 4,202 toys. From art and craft kits, puzzles, games and sensory toys – charities and organisations were given three times the amount they had hoped for due to local communities coming together after a challenging year.

All toys were picked up from the 31 donation stations, prior to the latest tier restrictions, in a special Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal van courtesy of Perrys, before they were sorted by voluntary elves and then quarantined for a COVID-safe period for in time for collection.

The Town Mayor, Cllr Mike Smith, said:

“We are completely blown away by the response we had to the Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal and are very glad to be spreading festive cheer across Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. It has been a challenging year for many groups and organisations so we are sure these toys that have been generously donated will make a huge difference to the children and their families this year.

“Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered and helped us spread the word. A special thank you also to Tring Radio, Red Kite Radio and Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio for their support.”