You can make a child's festive wish come true (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

You can make a child's festive wish come true

TOY APPEAL 2005: The High Streets are thronging with shoppers, Christmas lights are illuminating the towns, and up and down Wiltshire families are preparing for the season of goodwill.

While most children will have drawn up ambitious wish-lists, and most parents will be preparing to indulge them, there will be some families who feel a sense of dread at the approach of the Christmas season.

Those parents struggling to feed and clothe their children on a day-to-day basis will not relish the thought of buying Christmas presents too.

And youngsters who know their parents battle to make ends meet will not be looking forward to a Christmas Day when presents are likely to be thin on the ground.

But it doesn't have to be so grim. The Gazette and Herald has teamed up with Superdrug and the Salvation Army to run the Christmas Toy Appeal and we are inviting our generous readers to buy a little something extra for needy children.

Captain Mary Wolfe of the Salvation Army said: "The response to the appeal has been a little slow so far so I would ask people to buy a gift and make a difference. Please make an effort for our youngsters."

The appeal is also extending to the homeless and impoverished elderly as well so gifts such as toiletries, hot water bottles, gloves and scarves would also be most welcome.

Toys should be suitable for girls and boys aged up to 16.

They must be brand new no secondhand goods will be accepted and unwrapped so volunteers can distribute them appropriately and parents can do their own wrapping.

Donations can be dropped at the offices of the Gazette in Chippenham and Devizes, or at Superdrug stores.

This year for the first time the Salvation Army has the use of a warehouse on Bumpers Farm, Chippenham, to store and sort the gifts. "Last year we gave toys to around 100 families, which was 216 children benefiting," said Cpt Wolfe.

"And we give more than one present. The children receive three big presents and some stocking fillers.

"This is a very important appeal."

The receiving families are identified by Social Services workers and health visitors, and distributed by them in the run-up to Christmas.

So please when you're buying presents for your loved ones, pick up an extra something for children who might not otherwise have a happy Christmas at all.