Shropshire Star Christmas Toy Appeal - how you can donate

We will be spreading festive joy across Shropshire once more with our fourth Christmas toy appeal.

Once more the Shropshire Star is joining forces with our partners at Storage King to collect toys and gifts for children and teenagers across the county who might find Christmas a difficult time.

Since the appeal was launched in 2015, we have distributed nearly 3,000 Christmas gifts across 11 different organisations.

We are asking our generous band of readers to donate brand new toys, games, books, CDs, toiletries and other gift suitable for children and teenagers.

Chloe Edmonds of Storage King and Mark Andrews of the Shropshire Star with the first few toys to be donated

This year they will be distributed among five groups that work with young people: Telford Young Carers, The Harry Johnson Trust, the children's ward at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals trust, Hope House Children's Hospice and The Movement Centre.

All donations can be handed in at the following collection points:

Shropshire Star, Ketley Business Park, Waterloo Road, Telford TF1 5DT
Shropshire Star, 14 Salop Rd, Oswestry SY11 2NU
Storage King, Archers Way, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury SY1 3GA

Telford Young Carers provides support for children and teenagers who help look after a loved one who might be suffering from a serious illness or disability, while The Harry Johnson helps children who are being treated for cancer, as well as their families.

Hope House, which is based in Morda, near Oswestry, cares for children across Shropshire and Mid Wales with life-limiting illnesses, while The Movement Centre based in Gobowen provides pioneering therapies for children with cerebral palsy and other movement-related conditions.

Shropshire Star editor Martin Wright said the Christmas Toy Appeal was one of the highlights of the year for the newspaper.

"Every year we are overwhelmed by the generosity of our readers," he said.

"Many of the children the appeal helps show tremendous courage and maturity beyond their years.

"It is wonderful to see how an event like this can make such a difference."

Chloe Edmunds of Storage King said: "The toy appeal has been a huge success since it started in 2015, and we're delighted to be involved once more.

"As a company, we believe it is important to give something back to the community in which we operate, and it is wonderful to be able to help in this way."