ANOTHER generous donation to the Echo Toy Appeal has brought the total raised up to £3,000.

Dorchester Carpets and Beds has very kindly donated £200 towards the campaign, which will help support underprivileged children in Dorset this festive season and give them a merry Christmas.

The money donated by each business for the appeal will help provide toys for underprivileged children in Dorset this Christmas.

Owner of Dorchester Carpets and Beds, Barry Mould, said he is pleased to support the appeal and regularly supports other local causes every year.

Mr Mould added: “I saw that the Echo were looking for donations and decided to get involved with the Toy Appeal.

“I think it is a very worthy cause. It supports the local area and local children at Christmas time.”

Almost £4,000 was raised last year and thousands of new toys were donated to underprivileged children across Dorset to open on Christmas Day.

Toys have been donated to appeal bins in shops and businesses across the area.

Businesses have also been helping out by donating £100 to top up the funds raised so even more toys can be purchased.

Last year sacks of presents filled the Weymouth office before social workers and carers took them to deliver to underprivileged youngsters. All the gifts will go to children who may have suffered neglect, abuse or be living in refuges with their mothers.

Many are in the care of families who simply cannot afford to buy them something special for Christmas.

A HAULAGE firm is giving underprivileged youngsters a lift this Christmas with a donation to the Echo Toy Appeal.
Andrews Plant Hire and Haulage of Wareham has given £100 to the campaign, which will provide Dorset children with some special Christmas presents they wouldn’t receive otherwise.
Peter Andrews, owner of family business Andrews Plant Hire and Haulage, said the 40-year-old business last gave to the appeal in 2011.
He said: “We donated in 2011 after we heard about a friend of ours Danny Nash of Portland Stone giving money to it after his dad Butch died. So we were inspired by them to give to the firm.
“I feel quite strongly that every child should have the best Christmas they can and I think toys help to make their Christmas special.
“We wanted to give the money because it’s something for the children.”
Andrews Plant Hire and Haulage employs 63 people and has been family owned for the last 30 years.
It serves Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset and Devon and also provides aggregate sand for construction.

‘GIVING something back this Christmas’ is the motivation behind a £200 donation to the Echo Toy Appeal from a Portland businessman.
Danny Nash, director of Portland Stone Limited, has generously donated towards the campaign which will help provide toys for underprivileged children in Dorset this Christmas.
Mr Nash has made a £100 donation on behalf of Portland Stone, together with another £100 from The Butch Nash Charity fund.
Danny set up The Butch Nash Charity Fund last year in honour of father John ‘Butch’ Nash, who passed away in December 2011 after a three-year battle with lung cancer.
Danny Nash said: “We set up the fund to support local charities and those in need, especially on the island. My dad helped a lot in his life and he loved Portland.”
John Nash, dubbed ‘The Portland Legend’ founded Portland Stone Limited and donated thousands of pounds to charity including past Echo Toy Appeals.
Now his son Danny Nash is carrying on the generous donations and is encouraging other businesses to follow in his footsteps.
Danny added: “My family have been supporting the Echo Toy Appeal for years and I wanted to carry this on because it is a fantastic local cause.
“We felt a separate £100 donation from The Butch Nash Charity Fund would be great because it supports local charities and the Toy Appeal is a perfect fit.”

A DORCHESTER beauty salon has generously donated £100 to the Toy Appeal to support children who may be less fortunate this Christmas.
Belle Vere salon in Dorchester opened in November 2011 and staff at the store said they felt inspired to donate this year after seeing the editorial coverage in the Echo.
The money kindly donated towards the campaign will help provide toys for underprivileged children in Dorset this Christmas.
Laura Brewer from Belle Vere said: “Reading about the Toy Appeal has really inspired us here to donate this Christmas.
“We are a new business so we thought it would be great to help out during the festive season and give something back to the community.
“We want to support the appeal because it’s nice to help out children who may be less fortunate.
“Christmas is a festive and happy time of year but it’s important to remember those who may be less privileged.”