A READING based charity is urging people to donate toys to disadvantaged children this Christmas to help them enjoy the festive season.

Organised by Reading Family Aid, the Toys and Teens Appeal brings a little hope and happiness to local families living in desperate need, at a time of year when many feel lost and forgotten about.

READ MORE: Reading’s Mayor launches this year’s Toys and Teens Appeal.

Sponsored by The Reading Chronicle this annual toy appeal collects and redistributes new or ‘as new’ toys, suitable for ages 0 – 16, at Christmas.

For many families, the thought of Christmas conjures excitement and joy, expectation of presents and fun with loved ones.

READ ALSO: Best Christmas fairs and markets in Reading and Berkshire.

Children count down the days until Santa arrives with a sackful of the latest toys and gadgets.

But a quarter of children living in poverty in Reading aren’t so lucky.

Sarah from West Berkshire said: "We cannot give the kids what they asked for and although my children can be good at understanding I can see how disappointed it makes them.

"It also upsets me as I feel I should be doing better to provide what they want.”

Mary a support worker from a school in Reading has been working with disadvantaged families for 10 years.

She said: “I have known a family with two primary school aged children be so hard up for money that they couldn’t afford to put the heating on and would sit with quilts covering themselves.

“Food banks are often heavily relied upon, with donations sometimes being the only source of food families have to get by."

Having to choose between food, heating or a present at Christmas is a dilemma that families should not have to face.

Please help to bring some joy to these families this year and donate a toy to the Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Appeal.

The donation points are open today and remain open until Sunday December 1.

Popular presents for children include: arts and crafts, board games, outdoor games, gadgets, books and toys.

For more information, please visit Reading Family Aid's website here.

TOYS & TEENS APPEAL - PUBLIC DONATION POINTS 2019

Caversham Homecraft, Caversham

Caversham Library, Caversham

New Bridge Nursery, Caversham

Crescent Centre, Earley

St Barnabas Church, Emmer Green

Lower Earley Library

The Club at Mapledurham, Chazey Heath

Big Yellow Storage, 27 Rose Kiln Lane

Southcote Library

Spencers Wood Library

Norcot Early Years Centre, Tilehurst

Tilehurst Library

Birch Copse Primary School, Tilehurst

Reading Voluntary Action (RVA), Reading Town Centre

Sainsbury's, (Friar Street), Reading Town Centre

Civic Centre, Reading Town Centre

Reading Farmer’s Market, Reading Town Centre

World Shop, Reading Town Centre

Interserve, Twyford

Battle Library, West Reading

Tesco Extra, Portman Road

The Oakwood Centre, Woodley

Winnersh Primary School

Willow Bank Junior School, Woodley

Woodley Library

For further details on donation points, click here.