We approached Christmas 2023 not knowing what to expect and what the demand would be. We actually started full time work in early October and received five requests for toys for 86 children on the 24th of October. Quite a bundle to have arrived all at once.
By the time Christmas arrived we had had requests to provide toys for 3,541 children, so a small reduction on the previous year. Still a remarkably large number of children that would otherwise have not received presents on Christmas day but a large reduction on the numbers on 2020 and 2021.
Despite the squeeze people have experienced with their finances, 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 3,541 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.