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Dartford Toy Appeal organisers celebrated another successful Christmas after collecting a record number of donations.
The team from Dartford Deeds Not Words Foundation were joined by staff from companies who had helped collect toys, along with charity representatives who help distribute them to children, at the Wig and Gown pub in Dartford to mark the end of the appeal for 2019.
Dartford Deeds Not Words team Cllr Kelly Grehan, Lisa Bullock and Sarah Crook were joined by Louise Leslie, Rosie Neale and Stuart Potton to sort through the 2,000 plus donations – the most the appeal has ever collected.
This year’s donations were passed on to Choices, ellenor, Homestart, Imago Kent Young Carers, Mary’s Child, Rosewood Mums and Babies Unit, We Are Beams and the women’s refuge. The appeal has been backed by the Messenger.
Cllr Grehan said: “I’m really proud of Dartford Deeds Not Words Foundation. I’m even more proud to belong to a town which comes together to support us in doing Dartford Toy Appeal every year.”
Kelli Gardner from Imago Kent Young Carers, said: “On behalf of all of the staff at Imago, we would like to say thank you so much to Dartford Deeds Not Words. We have worked with them through the year and are extremely grateful for their continued support.
“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the local community who have donated gifts via Dartford Deeds not words, for children across the borough. Words can not express how wonderful it is to see the children’s faces when they receive gifts that they may not ordinarily receive.”
Graham Blew, of Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council, thanked those who had contributed to the collection across his area.
He said: “The organisers were very impressed by the generosity of residents when they came to collect all the toys and books ready for distribution to the charities.”
Collections points were located across Dartford, Greenhithe, Swanscombe and Gravesend.
Organisations which arranged collections included: Baby Ballers Ebbsfleet, Bresser Photography, Dartford Florist, Dartford Lions, Fairfield Women’s Institute, Fox Estates, Little Messers, Orchard Garage, North Kent College, RVT Group, Sally Sue’s Sandwich Bar, Stephen Oliver Studio and Gallery, Stephen P Gay Funeral Services in Gravesend, St Michaels and All Angel’s Church, Stone Pavilion in Greenhithe, Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council, Wig and Gown, Wisdom Estates, YMCA.
Sarah Scott, from Dartford Florist, said: “For the first time we were proudly a drop-off point for the toy appeal.
“We were amazed by the generosity of the people of Dartford but very thankful that we could help some amazing charities give Christmas presents to children this year who may not have otherwise received gifts.”
