We approached Christmas 2022 with some trepidation after the large increase in demand in 2020 and 2021 for toys and gifts for deserving children. But we braced ourselves not knowing what to expect. We actually started full time work in early October and received our first two requests for toys for 25 children on the 18th of October. Could this be a premonition that the load would be less than in 2020/21 when we had received requests for toys for 127 children on the 19th of October.
By the time Christmas arrived we had had requests to provide toys for 3,796 children, so a reduction on the previous two years. We do not know why, but we hope that this means that many more parents were back in work and able to buy their children presents after the trauma of the Covid Pandemic
Despite the Energy and Cost of Living crises, we were only able to do what we did because of the support of the people and businesses of Leicestershire and Rutland through their donations of new toys and gifts, monetary donations either by cheque or Just Giving on our web site. Also we could have not managed to do this without the companies, municipal offices, shops, supermarkets and markets that act as collection points or the volunteers both private and released by their employers to wrap those 3,796 presents.
We should not forget to mention all the individual referrers from Social organisations that not only put forward the requests for toys/gifts for deserving children, but they then also have to deliver these to the children making sure that the presents are with the children for Christmas. So thank you guys for allowing us to be the conduit to supply presents to those deserving children.
We at Toys on the Table never actually see any of the children but we do get follow up letters and e-mails from the referrers telling us what a difference the toys and gifts from the people of Leicestershire and Rutland have made to the lives of children that would otherwise have not received a present on Christmas day. And not only that but a NEW toy and they were the first to open the box.
On the children’s behalf TOTT would like to send all those mentioned above in Leicestershire and Rutland a great big
THANK YOU.