A READING Football Club legend has showed his support for this year's Toys and Teens Appeal.
Ady Williams, Reading Football Club legend and Welsh International footballer, has been lending his support to Reading Family Aid's appeal.
READ ALSO: Reading Family Aid urging people to donate toys as part of Toys and Teens Appeal.
The Christmas appeal brings a little hope and happiness to Reading families living in desperate need, at a time of year when many feel lost and forgotten about.
Sponsored by The Reading Chronicle, this annual toy appeal collects and redistributes new or ‘as new’ toys, suitable for ages 0 – 16, at Christmas.
READ ALSO: Reading’s Mayor launches this year’s Toys and Teens Appeal.
Mr Williams said: “The stats aren’t great.
"When we talk about poverty in Reading we’re talking over 10,000 children which is horrendous.
"As captain of Reading Football Club I’ve gone to certain regions in Reading where poverty is rife.
"I’ve seen families that haven’t got a couple of quid... I think people have to witness it to realise how bad it actually is."
Christmas is acknowledged as a time for giving, and at this time it often raises a lot of questions from children about why they should give to those less fortunate than themselves.
It is a difficult subject for them to comprehend for many reasons but explaining there are children living in the same town who are hungry, or whose families cannot afford toys, can be much more relatable than those living on another continent.
Last year’s Toys and Teens appeal saw presents delivered to 1,500 children in time for the festive season, providing a little joy and hope for some of these families at Christmas.
So, if you’re sorting through your children’s toybox, perhaps ask what they would like to donate to a child who might play with it more often than they do.
All new and as new toys will be greatly appreciated.
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 www.ReadingFamilyAid.org.
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
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