Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary have supported the Rotary Kid’sOut Toy Box appeal for many years and have again made a significant donation from this years Santa Float collection to help bring some festive joy to families who find themselves in a refuge over the Christmas period.
Please read on for this year’s National appeal report.
Over 3,100 children spending Christmas in refuge received festive surprises thanks to a
record-breaking second year for the Rotary Christmas Toy Boxes appeal.
Each Christmas around 5,000 children spend the festive season in a refuge having escaped homes marked by domestic abuse, violence and fear. One of the missions of Rotary in Great Britian Ireland, together with partners Kids in Mind, is to help restore some joy at this difficult time by a box of brand-new toys, worth around £80, for the parent to give to their child or children.
For the second year running, Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland and Kids in Mind launched the Rotary Christmas Toy Box Appeal, inviting Rotary members, clubs and the public to donate £30 per box towards the costs of filling them with toys and the logistics required to distribute them. Rotarians and Rotaractors also volunteered at packing centres across England, where thousands of toys were sorted and packed into gender and age specific boxes.
We’re delighted to report that the appeal raised £94,680, through around 250
donations, predominantly from Rotary clubs, across Great Britain and Ireland. In addition, generous support of major donors including Hasbro, The Toy Trust and Tesco ensured toys were supplied for every child, in every staffed refuge that responded to the request for orders.
Kids in Mind co-founder and volunteer, Rotarian Gordon Moulds, reflected on the scale of the achievement: “We knew the target was ambitious and the operation a real challenge. I have been hugely impressed by the generosity of Rotary clubs and by the 200 plus Rotarians and Rotaractors who sorted toys, filled boxes and prepared them for
distribution. It was a phenomenal community team effort.”
Dorothy Pulsford-Harris, a member of the Rotary Children’s Fun Day Team who
coordinates the toy boxes, added “It was fantastic to experience the level of interest and support from Rotary Clubs. The understanding of need and the depth of engagement were truly impressive.”
Reflecting on the campaign, Steve Rose, the Rotary Children’s Fun Day Team Lead, said
“We thank every Rotarian who contributed, alongside the efficient support from staff at
the Rotary GB&I Support Centre at Alcester. Kids in Mind are the most generous
organisation we are proud to work alongside, and we thank them for their inspiration,
commitment and energy.”
story by Steve Rose