For the second year running, Riverside Scotland’s Christmas Campaign has ensured that every child in a Riverside Scotland home has something special to unwrap on Christmas morning.
The initiative was supported by colleagues, the housing provider’s contractors Bell Group and Union Technical, as well as Cash For Kids.
The Christmas Gift Campaign is dedicated to helping tenant families who may struggle to provide presents for their children during the festive season.
This year, Tenant Partners identified families in need across Riverside Scotland’s 2,497 homes throughout Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway.
Jocelyn McDougall, Housing Manager said: “We organise this campaign to ensure that every child in our community experiences the joy of receiving a gift at Christmas. By reaching out to our colleagues, contractors, and applying for Cash for Kids vouchers, we aim to gather enough support to make Christmas special for those in need and alleviate some of the pressure on families. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity shown by our contractors and staff team. It’s heartwarming to see our community come together to support those in need during the festive season.
“We know it can be difficult to get into the Christmas spirit when you’re struggling to afford essential items, let alone presents and toys. We hope this campaign has brought some relief and joy to our families this Christmas.”
One mum, who faced a challenging time this Christmas, received gifts for her children and said: “I was really dreading Christmas this year as it’s been a stressful year with family issues and my mental health. I felt like a failure as I knew financially, I wasn’t going to be able to buy much for my three children. I didn’t know about the campaign, and when my support worker called to tell me they had toys for me, I was overcome with emotion.
“I am so grateful to Riverside Scotland. You don’t know how much this has helped. To receive these toys was a huge weight off my shoulders. Thank you so much to those who donated, you’ve given my children a special Christmas to remember! I can’t wait to see their faces on Christmas morning!”
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