by Thom Morris
tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

A huge collection of toys, sweets, gifts and goodies donated by kind-hearted Kentish Express readers has been collected by the Salvation Army from our offices.
Delighted Val Barclay and Mark Scott, pictured, of the Salvation Army, accepted the donations made to the joint Christmas Present Appeal.
They came to our North Street offices to pick up the hundreds of gifts donated by generous readers.
It was second pick-up the charity has made.

Mark Scott senior leader of the Salvation Army in Ashford said: “We are very grateful to all the readers of the Kentish Express who have donated to our Christmas appeal for 2009.
“We feel encouraged and blessed that people think to give to others at Christmas and we are delighted to be able to pass on this generosity to those who require support.”
Kentish Express editor Robert Barman added his thanks to those readers who have again supported the appeal.

"It's been amazing. We had scores of gifts delivered to our offices. At one point the store room was like a Santa's grotto - full of toys, sweets and other goodies.

"We thank everyone who has thought of others this Christmas."

Donated gifts will help light up the lives of those in need this Christmas.
And the second part of the Salvation Army’s Christmas effort is a dinner for the homeless and elderly on Christmas Day at East Stour Primary School.