Call to Fifers to help festive appeal

Donations are still needed to help families in need

In the final few days of the appeal, an army of volunteers, including staff from Lloyds Bank and Guides, have been helping to collect and sort hundreds of toys, books and games handed in at 43 collection points around Fife.

A Gift of Christmas was started this year by four mums from north east Fife with eight children, and another on the way, between them.

The group has applied to become a registered charity, and has taken on the reins following the demise of the Spirit of Christmas appeal.

Katherine Hope, one of the organisers who lives in Freuchie, told the Press: “I am very aware of the level of need and the poverty which so many face on a daily basis in 2016, with little or no hope of overcoming this in the short term.

“Many families don’t want to ask for help, many are juggling unmanageable debts. If there is one time of the year that we can help bring a smile to a child’s face then it is Christmas time, but we can’t do it without the help and generosity of the public.”

The donations are being collected from the drop-off points and taken to a warehouse which has been donated for the group to use.

If you would like to help, donations (unwrapped) can still be handed in until December 11 in Kirkcaldy at: Remax estate agents, Whytescauseway; Nationwide, 131 High Street; Ceramic Tile Warehouse, Park Road; Changes Salon, 53 Meldrum Road; Urban Barbers, 207 Dunearn Drive; Rejects Department Store, 123 St. Clair Street and Kirkcaldy fire station, 16 Dunnikier Road, between 5-7pm daily.

Kate added: “Sadly requests for gifts currently massively outweigh the number of donations which we have received so far. We have received over 2500 requests for gifts for children aged 0-18 years across Fife.

“We are very short of gifts for the 9-12 age group for both boys and girls, 13-16 and 16 plus (particularly boys) age groups, but all donations are very welcome.

“It has been great to see lots of workplaces agreeing that each employee will prepare a gift bag for a child instead of doing a Secret Santa this year. Similarly we are coming across people who are donating gifts to us instead of sending Christmas cards.

“We are now just hoping and praying for a last minute rush of people handing in their gifts to help us give something to as many Fife families in need as we can.”

Among the organisations which will benefit are: Fife Carers’ Centre; Fife Women’s Aid; The Cottage Family Centre; HomeStart; Woodlands Family Nurture; Community Care and Development and Barnardo’s as well as social work teams and others.

All donations should be of brand new toys or gifts and should be left unwrapped and marked with the appropriate age and gender. They can be accompanied by wrapping paper or a gift bag.

For more information, visit the Facebook page at: Gift of Christmas Appeal FIFE.