A CHILDREN’S gift giving appeal is under way.
The Giving Tree charity has set up its special tagged Christmas trees, and is already receiving presents that will help to make children smile this Christmas.
For 22 years generous local people have taken a tag from one of the charity’s trees, bought the present indicated on it, and then returned the gift to the same venue.
Gifts are then distributed to local children’s charities and delivered to youngsters in the borough whose families are struggling, and who would otherwise miss out on a present at Christmas.
It’s a simple but heart warming idea.
Where can I find a Giving Tree?
There are a number of locations in the borough:
Tesco Wokingham (gift voucher tags only)
Tesco Warfield
Tesco Martins Heron
Newbury Building Society, Wokingham
Nirvana Spa, Sindlesham
Wokingham Library
The Sultan restaurant, Wokingham
Sedero Lounge, Wokingham
Gill McKernan, appeal organiser, says: “I’ve been busy delivering tags to all the venues, ready for kind and generous local people to take and buy the gift which will make a child’s Christmas special.
“I am so very grateful for the response so far.
“Two of the businesses have already asked me for more tags.
“A massive thank you to all those involved.”
Which young people’s charities receive gifts to distribute to the children?
Local children’s charities collecting the presents are:
Barnardo’s
Sebastian’s Action Trust
Look Ahead Care
Berkshire Women’s Aid
Kaleidoscopic UK
Transform Housing
Home Start
Wokingham Young Carers
Dingley’s Promise
The Cow Shed
First Days,
Berkshire Vision
Children With Special Needs Foundation.
The gift appeal was launched last week at Tesco Wokingham.
Louise Jedras, the store’s community champion, says: “I am overwhelmed at how many tags have been taken from the tree in just the first few days since the launch of this year’s Giving Tree.
“We have had many returned back to Tesco with extremely generous amounts on the gift cards.
“You are all making such a difference to the lives of children you will probably never meet.
“Thank you.”
To contribute to the gift giving appeal, residents should take a take a tag from one of the Giving Trees, buy the gift requested on it, and return it, unwrapped, to the same tree.
