TWO WEEKS into a Christmas gift giving campaign, shoppers’ generosity is keeping organisers busy topping up children’s wishes.
Special Giving Trees in and around Wokingham carry gift tags bearing children’s Christmas present requests, as part of an annual Giving Tree appeal that aims to provide Christmas gifts for all youngsters in the borough whose families are experiencing difficulties.
The campaign is organised by Gill McKernan, who also works at Barnardo’s High Close School, in Wokingham.
To take part in the scheme, shoppers choose a request, buy the voucher or gift, and then return it and the tag to the same tree.
The gifts are distributed to borough charities, who wrap and deliver them for children to open at Christmas.
People can find Giving Trees here:
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Tesco Warfield
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Tesco Martins Heron
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Sedero Lounge
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Newbury Building Society in Wokingham
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Wokingham Borough Council
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Nirvana Spa in Winnersh
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Wokingham Library, and
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Tesco Wokingham (gift voucher tags only)
Louise Jedras,Tesco Wokingham’s community champion, said: “So many of the tags have had to be replaced already.
“Wokingham residents have yet again gone above and beyond, rushing into Tesco Wokingham to take gift tags from the tree, and returning generous gift cards.
“As I put more tags onto the tree I am really moved by some of the children’s selfless requests, such as, ‘I would like a voucher so I can buy my dog a present’.
And, ‘I would like a Restaurant voucher so I can treat my daddy’.
“That really touched me this week.
“We still have a few tags left on the tree in Tesco, so if you can, please help make a local child’s Christmas feel special.”
Charities that will be distributing gifts to children they support are:
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Transform Housing
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Home Start
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Kaleidoscopic
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Berkshire Women’s Aid
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Berkshire Vision
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Barnardo’s
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The Cow Shed
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First Days
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Promise Inclusion
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Sebastians Action Trust, and
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Dingley’s Promise
Sarah Brombley, family support worker and wellbeing champion at Wokingam Dingley’s Promise, said: “The Giving Tree is very special to us at the charity.
“It enables us to provide a Christmas gift to all of the children with special educational needs and disabilities who attend our nursery.
“We love seeing their smiling faces at our Christmas party when we hand over the gifts generously donated by the local community.
“Thank you so much for continuing to support our children and families..”
Dingley’s Promise supports children in the early years with special educational needs and disabilities, helping them to achieve their full potential.
Its Wokingham centre is based at All Saints Primary School on Norrey’s Avenue, and offers children activities in two playrooms and a sensory room.
Businesses supporting the Wokingham Giving Tree campaign this year are:
Simply Commerce in Wokingham
PricewaterhouseCoopers in Reading
accountancy and business advisory firm BDO, Reading
Guardian Financial Services, Reading
Dell in Bracknell
Artizian Catering Services of Hurst, and
clothing and apparel company Ariat.
