A BOROUGH gift giving appeal is enabling generous Wokingham shoppers to buy a present or a voucher for a child who might otherwise receive nothing on Christmas Day.
Organised by Gill Mckernan, Wokingham’s Giving Tree appeal has been bringing smiles to young faces for many years, as shoppers and local businesses to come together to support the borough’s children.
Gill said: “This year the children have asked for a real variety of presents, including: speakers, headphones, Lego, dolls, baby and toddler toys, toiletries, and jewellery. “Others have asked for sweets, clothing, footballs, board games, arts and crafts and shop and gaming gift vouchers.
“One request was for a Christmas cake to share, and the lovely lady who took the gift tag was going to bake one for the child.
“Another request was for The Traitors board game which has been very popular this year.
“And one very generous young person asked for a Restaurant voucher to treat their Mum.”
To take part, shoppers choose a gift tag from a Giving Tree, bearing a Christmas request, buy what is requested, and return the gift to the same tree, unwrapped.
From there it is collected and distributed to children in need by participating charities, to be opened by an excited child or teenager on Christmas Day.
Charities to receive gifts are: Transform Housing Home Start Dingley’s Promise
Kaleidoscopic Berkshire Women’s Aid Berkshire Vision
Barnardo’s The Cow Shed First Days
The Link Foundation and Reading Family Aid
Businesses supporting the scheme are: PriceWaterHouseCoopers – Reading
BDO – Reading Guardian Financial Services – Reading
Airlife – Basingstoke Ariat – Oxfordshire Group 1 Farnborough MINI
Simply Digital Group – Reading TMC Pharma Services – Hartley Wintney
and Infor Limited – Farnborough
And venues where residents can find a Giving Tree are:
Tesco Wokingham ( tags with requests for gift cards only)
Tesco -Warfield Tesco – Martins Heron Wokingham Library
Newbury Building Society – Wokingham
Wokingham Borough Council Offices and Nirvana Spa – Winnersh
The three Tesco stores have been contributing for several years.
Louise Jedras, community champion at Tesco Wokingham, said: “Even though we have selection boxes on the shelves for a few weeks before Christmas, the launch of the Giving Tree really feels like the start of the festive season.
“Our customers continue to be so generous and supportive of this local event, helping to make those in need have a special Christmas.”
Margaret Atkins, from Tesco Martins Heron, said:”I love this time of year when everyone gets together to help each other out.
“It’s great to be able to support charities that help children to receive a Christmas gift and alleviate some of the financial burden from struggling families.”
Amanda Eversden, from Tesco Warfield, said: ”I am so proud to be able to support local children’s charities in this way.
“The Giving Tree continues to be a great success in our store and I know our customers look forward to seeing the tags go onto the tree so they can help make someone’s Christmas.”
