Courier readers have stepped in to ensure disadvantaged children across Fife will have presents to open on Christmas morning.
The Gift of Christmas Appeal Fife feared having to disappoint youngsters as its warehouse remained all but empty with just days to go.
But reports of its plight in The Courier have encouraged kindhearted readers to come forward with gifts and cash donations.
Instead of the van loads of presents it was taking in last year, the appeal was bringing them in by the bag load.
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At the eleventh hour, however, volunteers behind the drive have been overwhelmed with a deluge of toys, books and games for youngsters who might otherwise have had little cheer on December 25.
Kate Hope, who launched the campaign last year with a group of fellow mums from Freuchie, said: “We are astounded. We have had a huge uplift in gifts and a lot of that is down to Courier readers — we are being told that many people have heard about us because of the articles.
“We have also had a lot of cash donations and we are going to use that for the age groups that we are short for.
Fears of bleak Christmas for youngsters as Fife charity’s warehouse lies all but empty
“We are now pretty confident that we will have an excellent amount of gifts.
“It feels like it has all come together at last.”
Donations in the last couple of days have included £800 from staff in Fife Council’s finance department and a haul of gifts from Sky customer services workers in Dunfermline.
The appeal, started following the demise of Fife’s Spirit of Christmas project, hopes to distribute gifts to 700 youngsters in need around the kingdom, referred by organisations including Fife Women’s Aid, Barnardo’s and Fife Council social services.
Saturday is the final day for donations.
Information about drop-off points and making donations is available on the Facebook page, Gift of Christmas Appeal Fife.
