A Fife group is warning hundreds of youngsters may not get a Christmas gift this year unless the public steps in to help.
The Gift of Christmas Appeal Fife is looking at an almost empty warehouse, only a week before the closing date for donations.
The charity has more applications for gifts than ever before so many of the kingdom’s most vulnerable youngsters will be left bitterly disappointed on December 25.
The charity aims to ensure every Fife child has a gift to open on Christmas day.
For some, it may be the only present they receive.
Kate Hope, one of the five parents who organise the annual event, is warning they desperately need the public’s help.
“Donations are again coming in slowly, even slower than last year,” she said.
“Everyone is feeling the pinch, especially the families who benefit from our appeal.”
The charity has 60 drop off points for donations this year, but Kate, who is a trustee along with Hilary Haman, Sarah Brown, Charlotte Lever and Lee Miller, said several have yet to receive any donations, despite being open to accept gifts since November 1.
“Others have only started receiving donations during the past week or so. Last year things were slow but picked up during the last two weeks.
“However, this year we are yet to see the last minute increase in donations being received.”
On a brighter note Kate added the donations received so far had been fantastic.
“We are very grateful to those who continue to support us, as are the children and families who benefit from our appeal.
“However, we are ready and waiting to collect and receive more donations from our 60 drop off points, but at many there has been very little to collect.”
Now in its third year and run entirely by volunteers, is collecting toys and gifts for children and young people from birth to the age of 18.
“Despite many setbacks and hurdles to overcome, we will continue to run Gift of Christmas Appeal Fife every year because we believe that every child and young person deserves to have gifts to open on Christmas Day.
“We are happy to sacrifice much of our own Christmases in order to achieve this, spending many hours in a very cold warehouse,” she said.
“It is fantastic to have seen the public coming together to help those in need, but it is also extremely saddening that there is such a high demand for assistance.”
Drop off points will close on Saturday December 15.
The fire stations will only be able to accept donations from 5pm to 7pm. For full opening hours of other venues visit
https://www.facebook.com/groups/312582869103406/permalink/722098014818554/
Kirkcaldy area: Remax, Nationwide, Ceramic Tile Warehouse, Kirkcaldy fire station, Changes Salon, Urban Barbers, Rejects, Spar Thornton, Fife Auto Centre.
Glenrothes area: Remax, Nationwide, Spar, The Dog House in Markinch, Spar in Glamis Centre, Leslie Meadows Dental Care in Leslie, Glenrothes fire station, Cadham Library, Fife Auto Centre.
Cupar area: Nationwide, YMCA, Falkland Estate for Stewardship.
Pittenweem: Pittenweem Chocolate Company.
Leven: Mayfair Hairdressing, Leven Library and Fife Council customer service centre, Nationwide, JoJo’s Beauty Salon, Fife Auto Centre, Optical Express.
Freuchie: Spar.
Methil: Methil Library and Fife Council customer service centre, Methil fire station.
Charlestown: The Scottish Lime Centre Tust.
Cowdenbeath: Hallmark, Cowdenbeath Local Office in Brunton House, Little World of Play.
Dunfermline area: Nationwide in East Port and Pitreavie, The Co-op stores in Pilmuir Street, Shamrock Street, Linburn Road and Robertson Road, Lochview Cattery in Kingseat, Furniture Plus, Dunfermline fire station, The Co-op in Crossford, Fife Auto Centre.
Elie: Fife Holiday Homes.
St Andrews: Starbucks, Spar, Makeover Rover, Fife Auto Centre, Sainsbury’s Local.
Dairsie: Dairsie Mini Mart.
Tayport: Tayport Links Caravan Park.
Inverkeithing: Akela’s Den.
Dysart: Furniture Plus.
Rosyth: The Co-op.
Dalgety Bay: The Co-op, Remax Estate Agents.
Lochgelly: Lochgelly fire station.
This year there is also an Amazon wishlist at
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3146P1GA19AID?&sort=default
.
The group is accepting donations of gift bags containing presents for many age groups from birth to 16 plus.
Individual gifts would also be welcome as the group can use them to make up additional gift bags.
Items should be new and unwrapped and the gift bags labelled with the intended recipients, ie girl 9 to 12 or boy 3 to 5.
Anyone who would like to donate sensory items, perhaps for children with impaired vision or autism, should also label it as such.
The team will also accept donations labelled mum or dad.
Full information is available at
https://www.facebook.com/GiftOfChristmasAppealFIFE/
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