WITH just a few more sleeps to go, children all over the nation are looking forward to Christmas Day.
Hundreds of youngsters whose families are experiencing difficulties this year, might have missed out on the fun of opening a present, but thanks to the Giving Tree campaign no child in the borough needs to be without a gift on Christmas morning.
Since the middle of November shoppers in and around Wokingham have been spreading Christmas cheer and demonstrating what the festive season is all about.
Taking gift tags from special Giving Trees located in a number of local stores and businesses, they have been buying children’s wished-for presents.
And as the gifts have rolled in, volunteers from local charities have been parcelling them up for children to open on Christmas morning.
Gill Mckernan, who organises the appeal, is delighted by the kindness and thoughtfulness of the borough this year.
She said: “People’s generosity has been overwhelming.
“The care and attention taken to choosing gifts takes your breath away, and people have gone above and beyond.
“Children will be getting something they really wanted, and more, this year because givers have been adding extra presents.
“But it’s not about the cost –– whatever people have been able to afford has been so thoughtfully given, and will really make a difference.
“Thank you, everyone, on behalf of all the charities and children.”
Charities receiving the gifts are:Transform Housing, Home Start, Dingley’s Promise, Kaleidoscopic, Berkshire Women’s Aid, Berkshire Vision, Barnardo’s, The Cow Shed, First Days, Promise Inclusion, and Sebastians Action Trust.
Shops hosting Giving Trees have been: Tesco Wokingham, Tesco Warfield,Tesco Martins Heron, Newbury Building Society Wokingham, Wokingham Borough Council, Nirvana Spa Winnersh, and Wokingham Library.
And supporting businesses this year include: Simply Commerce, Sedero Lounge, PricewaterhouseCoopers, BDO, Guardian Financial Services, Dell, Ariat, and Artizian.
Ms Mckernan said: “I’d especially like to thank Tesco Wokingham community champion Louise Jedras, who helped me to co-ordinate the campaign, and Price Waterhouse Coopers, who printed all the tags and posters.
“The Giving Tree is so worthwhile, and Christmas just wouldn’t be the same for hundreds of children, without it.”
Louise Jedras added: “And a huge thank you to all Tesco customers for the extremely generous amounts they put on gift cards to children they will never meet.
“A very Merry Christmas to you all.”
