Shropshire Gift Appeal: Big thank you for the generous donations

Donations continued to flood in right up until the last minute for the Christmas Gift Appeal, which has been jointly organised by the Shropshire Star and our friends at Storage King.

Gifts donated is up by at least 20 per cent compared to last year, with 11 charities and good causes receiving donations from the appeal. The gifts have been shared out between children suffering from illnesses or from difficult backgrounds, as well as vulnerable and elderly people who may be lonely at Christmas. The latest charity to collect gifts is The Movement Centre, which provides therapy for children suffering from cerebral palsy from its base in the ground of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry.

Fundraising manager Vicky Handbury-Madin picked up a trolley full of toys from the Storage King base in Archers Way, Shrewsbury, where the gifts are being distributed. She said the gifts would bring great joy to the youngsters.

Salopian Ventures Shrewsbury School has also donated £500 to the appeal, which will be used to buy yet more gifts.

Top chef Chris Burt, who keeps The Peach Tree restaurant in Shrewsbury, treated pensioners Margaret Lyon, Eileen Wilding, Pam Weston and Mamie Allan to a luxury meal, while Shrewsbury's Severn Theatre donated three pairs of tickets so youngsters could go with a parent to see its production of Cinderella.

Celebrities John Challis, Iolo Williams, Richie Woodhall and panto star Brad Fitt all pledged their support, with Brad taking time out from the production to bring in a large bag of gifts. Telford-based Golden Bear Toys donated a parcel of gifts, while kind-hearted Kleeneze agents Andrew and Janet Mitchell handed over 150 toys, worth £750, after inviting their customers to donate gifts – and then donating the proceeds to buy yet more presents.

Shropshire Star editor Martin Wright said he was delighted by the generosity of the people in Shropshire.

"Last year's appeal was an overwhelming success, with about 1,000 gifts being handed over the campaign," he said.

"To have done even better this year is remarkable and shows just how generous the people of this county are. A huge thank you to everyone who has donated. For many of the people the appeal is helping, just the fact that somebody has thought to give them a present is worth so much."

Assistant manager of Storage King's Shrewsbury branch Danni Butterworth said: "I'm really pleased with how the appeal's gone it's been really successful, and the charities seemed very pleased."

She said gifts had continued to pour in right up until the very end, with many charities coming back for second helpings.

As well as the Movement Centre, gifts have also been donated to Age UK Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Telford & Wrekin Young Carers, the children's ward at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, The Harry Johnson Trust, and Hope House Children's Hospice. The Little Rascals Foundation, which supports youngsters with learning disabilities, Telford & Wrekin Council's children's services department, North Shrewsbury Friendly Neighbours, and Parents Opening Doors which supports children with disabilities, also received gifts.

Telford & Wrekin Young Carers and Telford & Wrekin Home-Start also received toys for the children it supports.

Age UK has been distributing its gifts among the vulnerable elderly people who use its day centre. Storage King managing director Sarah Hopkins said she was very pleased that this year's campaign would be helping older people as well as youngsters.