AS THIS year’s Giving Tree appeal reaches its fifth week, organiser Gill Mckernan takes an opportunity to thank the borough on behalf of the many children who will benefit from hundreds of acts of kindness.
Gift tags on special Giving Trees around the borough have answered the wishes of less fortunate youngsters in and around Wokingham.
Shoppers taking one of these tags have bought the requested child’s gift, and returned it with its tag to the tree.
Gill has been topping up tags, and transporting returned gifts for wrapping by charities who will then distribute them to the children ready for opening on Christmas Day.
Gill said: “I have been very busy during the last week, delivering literally hundreds of gifts to the collection point at First Days.
“Some came from Giving Tree hosts, and there have been some big deliveries from local businesses too, including 100 gifts from BDO in Reading.
“I really can’t believe how very generous the local people have been.
“The gifts are just wonderful.
“I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who bought a child a gift for Christmas by taking a Giving Tree tag from a tree.
“These include members of the public and staff members from the businesses.
With all tags now taken from the trees, Gill will still continue to collect returned presents.
“Well over a 1000 gifts have been bought this year, which is amazing,” she said.
“I want to thank every single person who has been involved in The Giving Tree 2024. “Unfortunately, the children can’t thank everyone personally, but you are all superstars and will help make Christmas Day a happier time for so many.
“I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year.”
Participating charities this year were:
Transform Housing and Support Wokingham
Home-Start Wokingham District, Dingley’s Promise
Kaleidoscopic UK, Berkshire Women’s Aid
Berkshire Vision, Barnardo’s
The Cow Shed, First Days Children’s Charity
Promise Inclusion, and Sebastian’s Action Trust
Giving Tree hosts were:
Tesco Wokingham,Tesco Martins Heron
Wokingham Library, Newbury Building Society, Wokingham
Wokingham Borough Council Offices,
Nirvana Spa, Winnersh, and Sedero Lounge, Wokingham
Local businesses supporting the appeal were:
Simply Commerce in Wokingham
Reading companies PriceWaterHouseCoopers, BDO, and Guardian Financial Services
Fidelius Mortgages, Airlife in Basingstoke,
Artizian Catering Services based in Hurst, and Ariat from Oxfordshire.
To make sure all the presents are ready for Christmas, gift tags carry a December return-by date, with final gifts needing to be returned by Sunday, December 15, at the latest.
