Toy appeal: Generous reader give large donation

The Shropshire Star is working with our partners at Storage King in Shrewsbury to spread a bit of festive joy to children who might be otherwise struggle to enjoy the Christmas season.

Toys have continued to come in to our collection points, but this week it the collection received a real boost with the donation of two large bags containing more than 70 toys.

The donations, brought into the reception of our head office in Ketley, included cuddly toys, Lego sets, and stocking fillers for youngsters. It is the biggest single donation yet since the appeal was launched earlier this month.

Now in its third year, the appeal has seen more than 2,000 gifts distributed to charities and organisations across Shropshire.

This year, the donations received will be shared across five different organisations which work with children.

The Movement Centre at Gobowen, near Oswestry, provides pioneering treatments for youngsters suffering from mobility problems, and we are also supporting Hope House children’s hospice at nearby Morda. Hope House looks after children from across Shropshire and Mid Wales who suffer from life-limiting illnesses. The Harry Johnson Trust provides support for children across Shropshire and Mid Wales who are being treated with cancer, as well as their families, and gifts will also be donated to children being cared for by Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals trust, and also to Telford & Wrekin children’s services.

Shropshire Star editor Martin Wright said he was delighted by the generosity of the mystery reader, who brought the toys in on Tuesday. “This is a fantastic donation that will make such a difference to dozens of youngsters,” he said. “It just typifies the generosity of Shropshire Star readers, and I would like to offer my sincere thanks for whoever has made this wonderful contribution.”

Please keep the gifts coming, dropping them off at the following collection points:

• Shrewsbury: Storage King, Archers Way, Battlefield Enterprise Park, SY1 3GA

• Shrewsbury: Shropshire Star, 2, Bellstone, SY1 1QQ

• Oswestry: Shropshire Star, 14 Salop Road, SY11 2NU

• Telford: Shropshire Star, Ketley Business Park, Waterloo Road, TF1 5HU

• Telford: Leegomery Children’s Centre, Pool Farm Avenue, Apley, TF1 6FR

• Telford: Sutton Hill Children’s Centre, 103 Southgate, TF7 4HG

• Wellington: Wrekin View Children’s Centre, North Road, Wellington, Telford, TF1 3ES