Dartford Toy Appeal 3: Over 1,000 Christmas presents for disadvantaged local children

by | Dec 19, 2016 | Dartford Charities

Dartford Toy Appeal met with astonishing success this year, with over 1000 donations made.

Dartford Toy Appeal 3

The Appeal was launched in 2013 to collect Christmas presents for local children who may otherwise have gone without any presents at all.  Originally a small project with just four drop off points, Dartford Living and social media were used to publicise and develop community awareness of the scheme.

Conscious of the funding issues being faced by domestic violence charities and the knowledge that many children fleeing domestic violence are forced to leave behind toys, a decision was made to collect for Choices.  Due to the response, last year the appeal was widened to two charities, with The Parents Consortium added.  This year, eager to help as many local children as possible we decided to collect for four charities and invited The Haven Food Bank and ellenor to join as recipients.

The appeal ran from 14th November to 16th December.  As soon as the appeal was publicised people began making donations.  Clubs, businesses and groups began getting in touch asking if they could join in; churches, play schools, shops, members clubs, families, adults and children across our community contributed.

One of the founders, Dartford Living’s Vijay Jain said “Dartford Toy Appeal just gets better and better each year because of the generosity of local people.  Our community is fantastic and everyone should be proud that we donated 1,000 toys for local children in need of help in just a few weeks.”

Stephen Oliver, co-founder of the appeal, whose gallery is used as a drop off point and where the toys were sorted on Saturday said “Being one of the drop off points for the appeal has been such a heart-warming experience. From the very young, neighbouring shopkeepers, and older members of the community: all have taken time out to donate and help the less fortunate in our town.”

Founder and Coordinator Kelly Grehan, said “We started this as a small community project three years ago, with the aim of collecting 40 presents.  I just cannot believe what it has grown into.  I was worried whether we would get enough toys for four charities, so to see response was amazing. What is also wonderful, is getting messages from businesses, shops, clubs and individuals asking if they can get involved.  It is just amazing.”

Diane Wisdom from Wisdom Estate Agents said “We were only too pleased to be involved again this year.  We are thrilled it was such a success.”

The Parents Consortium said “Thank you so much to all those who helped organise this year’s Toy Appeal it was overwhelming seeing all those donations and it is truly amazing what people give especially at this time of year.”

We’d like to thank everyone who donated and took part. We have a fantastic community in Dartford – don’t ever let people make you doubt it!

Messy Dash Makes a Big Impact- Local Families and Supporters Raise £21,000 for We Are Beams

In an explosion of colour, laughter, and community spirit, over 1,000 participants took part in the We Are Beams Messy Dash on Sunday 6th July, raising an outstanding £21,000 to support disabled children and their families. Held at Dartford...

Ben Portsmouth brings the ULTIMATE Elvis experience to Orchard West on Sunday, 31st August

Ben is not just a tribute artist; he is the real deal, being regarded as the closest living performer to the legendary Elvis Presley. With global success in over 20 countries, Ben Portsmouth brings energy, passion and authenticity in a way that no one else can...

HAMILTON’S CLEVE SEPTEMBER RETURNS IN TITLE ROLE OF ALADDIN AT ORCHARD WEST THIS CHRISTMAS

Having won Dartford audiences over in his performance in panto last year at Orchard West, the Olivier Award-nominated Cleve September is set to return this season in the title role of Aladdin. Cleve will take centre stage alongside the previously announced TV...

Two days of entertainment and activity coming to Dartford

Get ready for two days of incredible entertainment as the Big Day Out weekend returns to Dartford’s Central Park on 12-13 July, bringing with it live music, vintage steam vehicles, family-friendly activities, and more – all completely free! Saturday will kick-off with...

FIND DARTFORD’S JASMINE

OPEN AUDITIONS ANNOUNCED!Your Chance to Shine in This Year’s Magical Pantomime Aladdin! Orchard West and Imagine Theatre are on the lookout for a shining star as they launch open auditions toFIND DARTFORD’S JASMINE! Aspiring performers are invited to attend auditions...

New social supermarket opens in Dartford

Dartford Larder, a new social supermarket designed to provide an alternative to Foodbanks, has officially opened in Dartford. Situated in Copperfields Walk, Dartford Larder aims to: provide an affordable shopping experience, tackle food insecurity, and resolve food...

WALKING WITH THE DARTS | JUNE-JULY EDITION

Hello again, welcome to another edition of Walking With The Darts, a monthly update on all things related to Dartford FC, courtesy of Dartford Living Magazine. Before I begin, please accept my sincere apologies for the lack of content recently. It has been a hectic...

How to transform your home on a budget 

By Qashish Dhiraj Mehta  Giving your apartment a makeover can feel like a uphill task. With a limited budget and limited space, every piece of furniture, every decoration, and every storage solution has to work overtime. But here’s the good news: a tight pocket...

Your Plans, Our Support: How Wave Community Bank support the local community with affordable loans

Life in Dartford and the surrounding areas often brings new opportunities and unexpected needs. Whether you're dreaming of solar panels on your roof to cut energy bills, need a new car for the daily commute, or simply require a smaller loan to by a...

Why Your Savings Belong at Wave Community Bank (Especially if You’re in Dartford!)

When it comes to stashing away your hard-earned money, you've got options. Big banks, online-only institutions, and then there's your local credit union. While the giants often grab the headlines, there's a compelling case to be made for choosing a credit union...