Cambusbarron childminder Moira Kerr and her young charges have epitomised the spirit of the Stirling Observer Give A Gift Appeal.
Local charities and organisations are now busy helping Santa to distribute toys and gifts after the Observer team gathered in donations from drop off points and a number of other supporters.
Regular backers Moira and the children in her care fundraise for much of the year to raise money to buy their own toys for Give A Gift, over the years organising everything from bake sales to growing and selling vegetables to raise cash.
And this year the youngsters raised more than £500 for the cause.
“This year my children wanted to do something different,” said Moira. “Back in September we had a coffee afternoon and one of my children, Kirsty, made little lavender stuffed chickens to sell at it.
“Some of the children also made things for the afternoon tea.
“With the money we raised along with donations from family and friends we have totalled £550.”
Moira then took the children out shopping and, with the benefit of their expert opinions, bought a host of toys and gifts to donate.
Stirling Observer reporter Kaiya Marjoribanks said: “Every year Moira and the children just blow us away with their efforts.
“To see how the children are so eager to help others is heartwarming — and those no longer in Moira’s care have even continued to support the appeal.
“The enthusiasm they bring is absolutely infectious — and certainly gives the rest of us a boost in the busy weeks and days leading up to Christmas.
“Moira herself is just a great example of why the role of a childminder is so important. She goes over and above to not just make sure the children are well looked after but, along with their families, also to nurture them as kind and caring human beings who are aware of others who are less fortunate.
“That will no doubt be something they continue into later life.”
Representatives of a number of charities, groups and organisations who support sick, disabled, needy and disadvantaged children and young people aged from babies to teenagers, came to choose from items donated by individuals, groups, churches, schools and businesses recently.
“To see how local people have responded yet again to Give A Gift shows that this is a community that cares,” added Kaiya.
“We at the Stirling Observer and the charities and good causes can only do our best to get the donations to as many families and young people as possible but hopefully the one gift that everyone will receive is the knowledge that their neighbours, friends and their community really do care about them, whether their challenges in life are financial, health related or challenging circumstances of any kind.
“Thank you to everyone and anyone who has played their part in making that happen.”
Running since 2008, the appeal receives and distributes donations of new toys and gifts for sick, disabled, needy and disadvantaged children and young people aged from babies to teenagers.
Collected with the kind support of a host of drop-off points across the area, the gifts are distributed via a wide range of charities, large and small.
Among the charities and good causes which help to distribute gifts are Stirling Council’s social services, Stirling Young Carers, Home-Start Stirling, Cornton Vale and Glenochil Family Hubs, Barnardo’s and Stirling Women’s Aid, Forth Valley Royal Hospital’s children’s ward, and Support4Families, as well as several community groups and organisations.
Anyone inspired by the Stirling Observer Give A Gift Appeal to donate a toy who has not already done so, can still help in the wider community effort to ensure as many children and families don’t go without this Christmas.
The Stirling Observer appeal will now be providing some toys and gifts to the Christmas Eve drive being organised to distribute food and supplies to locals on December 24 from premises in the city’s Wellgreen Lane.
Members of the local community, including former staff and volunteers of the Transition Community Food project and Stirling Citizens Advice Bureau, are collaborating with the Haider Bhatti family, to open the community food hub building one more time on Christmas Eve.
The group known as ‘Stirling Aid Christmas Community Food’ aim to distribute food donated from local businesses and supermarkets for free, offering support to members of our local community during these challenging and difficult economic times.
However, as part of the effort, they also hope to have some toys available to help out anyone whose children may be at risk of not getting a visit from Santa this year.
Kaiya said: “Once we have fulfilled our commitments to those charities and good causes we help, we will be providing any remaining donations to the Stirling Aid/CAB effort to ensure they continue to help anyone who needs help this Christmas right up until the last minute.
“The people of Stirling have already been incredibly generous, but anyone who has not already donated a toy and feels inspired to do so, we would encourage them to drop a gift into the CAB office in the run up to Christmas Eve.”
Any donations of new/boxed toys can be made at the Stirling CAB office, The Norman MacEwan Centre, 3 Cameronian Street, Stirling, FK8 2DX, Monday to Friday 10am-4pm and until 1pm on Christmas Eve.