Shropshire Toy Appeal: Toy story can make Christmas special

But for some children, battling with illness or poverty, Christmas may not be so magical. And that is where you come in.

Today the Shropshire Star launches a Christmas Toy Appeal, working with our partners at Shrewsbury-based Storage King. And we need your help.

It's easy to give to our appeal. Toys can be donated at our two drop-off points.

• In Telford: Shropshire Star, Waterloo Road, Ketley TF1 5HU. From 8am-6pm Monday to Friday. Saturday 8am-1pm.

• In Shrewsbury: Storage King, Archers Way, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury, SY1 3GA. From 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. On Saturdays the base is open from 10am to 4pm.[/breakout]

We are asking Shropshire Star readers to donate new toys and games, which we will distribute to ensure that the less fortunate children in our area will get the Christmas they deserve.

The toys will be given to a number of children's charities and organisations.

A number have already signed up and more are expected to follow.

But you can be assured that the gifts you give will help make Christmas special for children who are facing challenges or an uncertain future.

Hope House, which runs hospices for children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses, Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals, and Telford & Wrekin children's services will all benefit from your donations.

We will also be giving toys to the Harry Johnson Trust, which supports children receiving treatment for cancer and their families.

Founder Sally Johnson, who set up the charity in memory of her son Harry, said: "The toy appeal will make so many local children smile during an unimaginably tough time in their lives.

"Stays in hospital for children with cancer are often lengthy and uncertain.

"Children are confined to their own room or the oncology area in the unit, and days can seem long and repetitive. Children are separated from friends and siblings and their treatment can be painful and upsetting. Being able to give one of these brave children a little gift to help pass the time and provide a little bit of respite from treatment is a wonderful gesture, which means so very much to them."

This Christmas we would like to appeal for donations of toys and gifts for recipients of ages from babies to young adults.

The gifts need to be new but unwrapped so that the charities are able to select the right gift to fit the recipient.

The toys and gifts can be enchanting, educational, help use the imagination, and just simply really good fun.

This is a brief list to help give an idea of what donations would be ideal:

• Toys with lights, sound and/or different things to feel.

• Play figures, such as dinosaurs, Action Man or Barbie.

• Puzzles, such as jigsaws, shape sorters or alphabet matching.

• Books for all ages: For children, with or without buttons to press or pictures to feel; and fiction or non-fiction books for young adults and teenagers.

• Games to play on their own or with family and friends.

• Craft sets, drawing books, painting sets, crayons and felt tip pens for all ages.

• Popular toys for boys and girls, such as Lego, Playmobile, Sylvanian Families and

• Toy cars, planes and boats.

• Toiletry gift sets for teenagers and young adults.

• DVDs for all ages.

• Trip passes for days out in the region.

• Vouchers for iTunes or similar.

All gifts will be appreciated by their recipients during their time of need. Whether you can make a donation of one gift, or are a business that can donate several, all gifts count. If you want to help or have any questions, call (01952) 241491.

She said many parents had to give up work to care for children who were being treated for cancer, which meant it was difficult for them to afford treats for their children at a time when they needed them most.

Sally said the charity would like to be able to give gifts to the brothers and sisters of cancer sufferers too, as they also suffered.

"If you have children or grandchildren, think of what they love and you can be sure one of the children we help will love it too," she added.

Shropshire Star deputy editor Mark Drew said he looked forward to the appeal being able to help bring a touch of Christmas magic to as many youngsters as possible.

He said: "We are delighted to be able to launch the toy appeal today.

"The people of Shropshire and Mid Wales are extremely big-hearted, and we're hoping to harness that generosity to ensure that as many youngsters as possible will have the Christmas we would want for our own children.

"I would like to thank Storage King for helping to organise the appeal.

"We are looking for new toys and games for boys and girls of all ages. These can be left at our drop-off points at the Shropshire Star in Telford and Storage King in Shrewsbury."

Alison Hankinson, who is based at Storage King's head office in Shrewsbury, said: "Storage King is very proud to be working with the Shropshire Star to bring a toy appeal to the region this Christmas.

"There are many children and young adults who are going through hard times this Christmas. This could be for various reasons, undergoing medical treatment, living with a medical condition, or coming from a not-so-well-off family.

"All children and young adults, no matter what their circumstances and background, deserve to receive a present this Christmas.

"Please put a smile on someone's face this Christmas and help us raise as many toys as we can."

Where your gifts to children will go

• Hope House, which runs hospices in Oswestry and Conwy, provides care and support to children with life-limiting illnesses. A range of services is offered, including respite and end-of-life care, be it at the hospice or within the family home. The hospice seeks to provide children with a friendly homely environment, and includes offers of physical, psychological and spiritual care. It provides round-the-clock support every day of the year. The toys will be given to children with life-limiting illness to ensure they can have the best Christmas possible.

• The Harry Johnson Trust was formed by Sally and Stephen Johnson, in memory of their son Harry who died last year at the age of seven after battling a rare form of childhood cancer. The charity provides support for all youngsters who use children’s oncology at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford. The unit, which is based at the new women and children’s centre, serves the whole of Shropshire. The charity also supports for brothers and sisters of children recovering from cancers, as it can often be a traumatic time for them too.

• Climbing Out was founded by Kelda Wood, who works with young people dealing with life-changing injuries or illnesses. Kelda, from Shrewsbury, was left physically disabled following a serious accident. After getting back on her feet, she decided she wanted to help others to do the same. The charity, which is now based in Wellington, Telford, caters for young people suffering from a variety of conditions, ranging from cancer to brain injuries. The charity runs five-day outdoor activity programmes with the aim of helping to restore confidence and self-esteem.

• Telford & Wrekin Council’s children and family services offers early help and support to a range of vulnerable children aged up to 19 years old. It also works closely with parents and families to improve lives for children. Working with children and parents, the service operates a number of children’s centres across the borough, giving help not just to young people but also their parents to make the most of the opportunities that are available to them. Staff at Telford & Wrekin Council will distribute presents to children they support.

• Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals. The appeal will also be looking to bring a little Christmas cheer to youngsters who are treated at Shropshire’s two main hospitals over the Christmas period. Most of these will be at the new women and children’s unit at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital. Since the unit opened a year ago, more than 10,000 children have been treated there. Between now and Christmas, it is likely that more than 1,000 children will be treated for a variety of illnesses, from routine accidents and injuries right the way through to long-term and life-changing illnesses.