West Lothian Toy Appeal delivers presents to needy kids at Christmas

Dec 31 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

West Lothian Toy Appeal delivers presents to needy kids at Christmas

VOLUNTEERS who have been handing out toys to needy children this Christmas have said a big thank you to everyone who has helped.

The West Lothian Toy Appeal collects good quality, second hand, toys donated by the people of West Lothian, along with money and toys from churches, schools, local businesses or residents.

This year, after receiving referrals from health visitors, homeless units and social workers, staff of Voluntary Action West Lothian organised the buying, packing and delivering of sweets and gifts to 431 families, including some 932 children.

It has proven to be a stupendous success for the county.

Staff from Quintiles, along with Wendy Simpson from RiverKids and student Alana Frame from Bathgate Academy, helped collect toys and sort them into age appropriate groupings and then members of the Scots Guards helped deliver the toys.

Jackie Agnew, one of the founders of the Toy Appeal, said the gifts bring tremendous joy to children and their families.

She said: “I can’t remember a Christmas Eve when I haven’t been busy delivering gifts, but it’s all worth it.

“In a lot of cases the families don’t know that they’ve been recommended to be given gifts so when we turn up they’re just so overwhelmed that some people just break down and cry.

“The appeal takes a lot of time and effort to make sure everything is done on time, but we always get there in the end.”

Each year this appeal relies on an army of volunteers to collect gifts and distribute them to the community and volunteers say it’s not just Christmas presents they are delivering, but a symbol of how much local people care.

Volunteers from the Army, the Miss West Lothian competition and other local business also helped deliver the toys.

Voluntary Action West Lothian, now Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian, is proud to have been part of this tradition for over 20 years but thanks go to everyone involved in making Christmas brighter for so many West Lothian children.