Fifers urged to back annual Christmas Toy Drive campaign

Usually, the Toy Drive is one of the best examples of the local community working together, with people donating gifts, businesses and groups collecting and helping the effort, and a small band of volunteers organising the whole operation.

But with restrictions in place this year, founder Victoria Leonard is asking the people of north east Fife to donate Amazon vouchers.

“This reduces any cross transfer from house to house, and as we rely on schools, businesses, and churches to store items, its just not practical to ask that this year,” she said.

“It also ensures children will still receive gifts even if a further lockdown is imposed.

“With so many restrictions in place and the propensity for sudden change we didn’t want to add to the stresses. Equally if we did get Collection Points up and running safely and then go back into some version of lockdown, it would all grind to a halt.

“So, our plan is to specifically request monetary donations that will go straight to the purchase of vouchers. Last year we accepted referrals for 500 children across north east Fife, so based on that number if we aimed for a £10 voucher per child we are working to a £5000 budget.”

The Toy Drive has been running for almost a decade, making sure every child in north east Fife gets a present at Christmas.

All the families who get the gifts are people who have been referred.

If you would like to make a donation towards the Toy Drive, visit the crowdfunding website – www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/toydrive2020.