How to donate toys and charity Christmas gifts to children

Children were among those hit hardest by the pandemic, as families got poorer and young people found themselves cut off from their communities. 

If you’ve ever considered giving a Christmas gift to a child who might otherwise not receive one, now is the time.

There are a number of ways to give presents to disadvantaged kids, from toy drives to cash donations and specially-chosen books. Read on to find out how you could give a child a reason to smile this Christmas morning.

Buy a child a toy

The Salvation Army is teaming up with toy shop The Entertainer to give gifts to a record-breaking number of children this year.

For every £5 donated by the public to the Big Toy Appeal, the retailer will match it to provide an extra toy for a disadvantaged family at Christmas.

The appeal launched in 2018 and has since ensured 60,000 children had a toy or book to open at Christmas. Those behind the charity Christmas gifts campaign hope that number can hit 100,000 this year.

Simply click here and follow the instructions to donate. The appeal closes on November 30 to ensure enough time to deliver the gifts.

Give UK children books this Christmas

This year the BookTrust is sending surprise book parcels to vulnerable children and those in care.

The charity is aiming to make sure 16,000 children receive a festive read this year. Half will be distributed through food banks to families facing poverty, while the other half will go to children in the care system.

By donating £10 to the appeal, one child will receive a book parcel selected according to their age. They’ll receive one of six hardbacks:

• Tales from Acorn Wood by Julia Donaldson
• Paddington Treasury by Michael Bond
• My Encyclopedia of Very Important Adventures by Will Gater
• Weird but True 2022
• Guinness World Records 2022

Each parcel will also include a special letter, a poster and a bookmark.

Donate here.

Be a secret Santa for a child facing a difficult Christmas

Through Action for Children, you can select a gift for a child in need to brighten their festive season.

For £25 you can pay for a young person’s Christmas present; £10 will pay for their food for a day, ensuring UK kids are less likely to go hungry this winter as demand for food banks soars.

Alternatively, donate £10 to fund a child’s visit to Santa, or keep them warm with £40 worth of winter clothes.

Larger donations of £60 or £100 can cover a child’s essentials for four days or even a bed.

Support survivors of domestic abuse

Fleeing domestic abuse often means being left with little but the clothes on ones back. It can be even more difficult around Christmas, especially with children.

Through Refuge, you can buy a charity Christmas gifts for a child or mother which can provide some joy or comfort this festive season.

From bath toys to colouring books to backpacks, or puzzles, lipstick or bath sets for mum, it’s easy to donate to those trying to rebuild their lives.

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Give a Christmas hamper to a family

Based in the north east of England, Feeding Families supports people trapped in poverty. For many, the pressure of Christmas is just another source of dread and unaffordable extra costs, and disadvantaged children often have to go without the Christmas treats their better-off peers receive.

The charity provides a matching service putting families in touch, so one can create a festive hamper and personally gift it to another.

Online tips make it easy to know what should go in the hamper and, once you’re matched with a family in need, you’ll be notified of any dietary requirements.

There are currently more families on the list to receive a hamper than there are who have signed up to donate one. You can help rectify that here.