The number of Reading children who face Christmas without presents this year has skyrocketed 500 per cent compared to 2002, according to a charity.
Almost 3,000 kids have registered with the Reading Family Aid for gifts, as parents “struggle to keep houses and feed their children.”
The charity’s Toys and Teens Appeal, sponsored by The Reading Chronicle, aims to plug the gap, but one volunteer of 20 years said the rising demand was “scary”.
“Everybody thinks Reading is quite an affluent place but there’s huge areas of deprivation and the gap between those that have and those that haven’t seems to be growing. It’s pretty bleak,” said Ruth Perkins, from Reading.
READ MORE - Toys & Teens Appeal 2022: Could you help give a gift this Christmas?
“The number of children has just gone up and up. When I was first involved I think there was about 500 and we are just under 3,000 this year. That’s 3,000 Reading children who otherwise wouldn’t get any Christmas presents so it’s quite scary really.”
She continued: “It’s always a bit stressful – will we match up the number of donations against the number of children?”
The Toys and Teens campaign invites people to donate gifts or cash to help make Christmas more special for those children set to receive nothing this festive season.
One organization making a difference is the John Sykes Foundation, which donated £1,000 to the cause on Friday (November 18).
Founder John Sykes said: “Every child should feel the excitement of waking up to gifts under the tree, however we know for some families that after a tough year are struggling to even get by day-to-day, and for some it's a question of putting food on the table or affording presents.”
READ MORE: Grandmother left with nothing after fleeing fire hails appeal for saving Christmas
Schools, churches, companies, and individuals pulled together 2,500 gifts last year, but as the cost of living crisis meets winter, help is needed now more than ever.
“Parents are really struggling,” said Deputy Mayor of Reading, Councillor Debs Edwards.
“Reading is supposed to be quite a wealthy place but it has got such big pockets of deprivation and we have got many parents who are really worried - trying to keep their jobs and keep their house, feed their children - and sometimes Christmas is just a cracker and a sandwich.”
She continued: “I am just so proud that John Sykes has concentrated on Reading, we really need this.”
There are 28 donation points across Reading and the surrounding areas where generous residents can visit, listed below.
If you work for a company based in Reading or the surrounding areas, consider setting up a toy collection in your office, or donating to one of the donation points across Reading.
Please visit our Toy Donations page at readingfamilyaid.org/donate-toys.html for details of how to donate and what can (and can't) be donated.
There is also an online GoFundMe appeal at https://gofund.me/5038d766.
Money donated buys presents for age groups that aren’t typically provided for, like teenagers, as well as batteries for toys, and is an easier way to donate for those that can’t access donation points.
LISTED: Drop-off points for donation in and near Reading
- Caversham Homecraft, Church Road - Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
- Fourbears Books, Prospect Street - Tues-Sat 9.30am - 4.30pm, Sat 11am - 2.30pm
- Caversham Library, Church Road - Tues&Fri from 9am-5pm, Thurs from 1pm-7pm, Sat 10am-3pm
- New Bridge Nursery, Montague Street - Mon to Fri 9am-3pm
- The Heights Primary School,Upper Woodcote Road - Mon to Fri 8.30am-3.30pm
- Earley Crescent Resource Ctr, Warbler Drive - Mon-Thurs 8.30am-6pm, Fri 8.30am-3.30pm, Sat 8.30am-noon
- St Barnabas Church, Grove Road - Tues 8.30am to 11am, Weds 10.30am to 11.30am, Sun 9am to 11am
- Christchurch Centre, Reading Road -Mon to Fri 9am-3pm
- Lower Earley Library, Chalfont Close - Thurs 9.30am to 7pm, Sat 9.30am to 4pm
- The Club at Mapledurham, Chazey Heath - Mon to Fri 6.30am to 10pm, Sat and Sun 6.30am to 7pm
- Big Yellow Storage,Rose Kiln Lane - Mon to Fri 8.30am to 5.30pm, Sat 9am to 5.30pm, Sun 10am to 4pm
- Leighton Park School, Shinfield Road (Reception) - Mon to Fri 8a to 5pm (Term time only)
- Southcote Library, Southcote Community Hub, Coronation Square - Tues 9am to midday and 1pm to 7pm, Thurs 9am to midday and 1pm to 4pm, Fri 9am to midday, Sat 10am to 1pm
- Birch Copse Primary School, Wittenham Avenue - 9am to 3pm (Term time only)
- Co-op Food, School Road - Mon to Sat 7am to 10pm, Sun 10am to 4pm
- Tilehurst Library, School Road - Mon 9am to 5pm, Tues 9am to midday, Thurs 1pm to 7pm, Sat 10am to 3pm
- Civic Centre, Bridge Street - Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm
- Reading Voluntary Action, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square - Mon, Thurs, Fri 10am to 5pm
- Roc Search, King’s Road - Non to Fri 9am-6pm
- Battle Library, Oxford Road - Tues 1pm to 7pm, Thurs 9am to 5pm, Fri 9am to midday, Sat 10am to 3pm
- Tesco Extra, Portman Road - Mon to Sat 6am to midday, Sun 10am to 4pm
- Winnersh Primary School,Greenwood Grove - Mon to Fri 10am to 2pm
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here