TWO hundred pounds worth of toys for Dorset children will be donated to the Echo Toy Appeal thanks to a generous Weymouth tourist shop.

Tom Steadman, joint owner of Tom and Erin’s Gift Shop on Weymouth Esplanade, said the store felt inspired to donate the toys after seeing the Echo editorial coverage.

The huge collection of toys donated to the appeal will help provide a Merry Christmas for underprivileged children in Dorset this festive season.

Tom added: “Tom and Erin’s Gift Shop is very much a family business and we wanted to do what we could to help this festive season.

“This is the first time we have donated to the Echo Toy Appeal; we believe it’s a very worthy cause that gives something back to the community.

“We thought donating toys rather than money would be something different and we have a shop full of toys here so can’t wait to pick them out.

“We would encourage other businesses who can afford to donate to follow suit.”

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 can be donated to appeal bins in shops and businesses across the area.

Businesses can help 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 collected 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.

 

‘CARING for children at Christmas’ is the motivation behind one Weymouth building company donating to the Toy Appeal for the first time.

Malcolm Goodyear Carpentry and Building Services Limited, based on Links Road in Weymouth, has donated £100 to the appeal which will help provide toys for underprivileged children in Dorset this Christmas.

Company director Malcolm Goodyear, pictured, said: “I just thought the Toy Appeal was such a worthy cause to support, especially at Christmas time.

“The appeal also helps children that are less privileged and who may not get a lot, if anything at all, during the festive season.

“The company think the campaign is a great idea that gives something back to the community at Christmas time. We are happy to support the appeal and would encourage other businesses to do the same.”

Club together for donation

WEYMOUTH Golf Club has potted in with a donation to the Echo Toy Appeal which will give children across Dorset a very happy Christmas.

The club hold a charity week every August to raise money for charity and next year marks the charity week’s 25th year.

Funds for the Toy Appeal have come from the club’s charity week and the £200 generously donated towards the campaign will help provide toys for underprivileged children in Dorset this Christmas.

Bob Mico, chairman on Charity week at Weymouth Golf Club, said: “Throughout the 24 years of charity week so far at the club, we have given away over £170,000 to local charities.

“This is the first year we have donated to the Echo Toy Appeal because we believe it is a very worthy cause at Christmas.

“It supports local children and helps to give them something nice at Christmas time.

“We are also interested in finding other local people that may need our help.”

Toy shop adds its support

HOWLEYS Toymaster in Weymouth will help give children across Dorset a Merry Christmas after a donation to the Toy Appeal.

The popular toy retailer has donated £100 to the appeal.

Howleys have supported the appeal since it began with toy collection bins based at all three Howleys stores including the lego shop and pre-school shop.

Now, the toy retailer is backing the appeal even further with a donation for the first time this year.

Owner of Howleys, Ian Moore, said he felt inspired to donate after seeing the amount of support and community response for the appeal in the Echo.

He added: “We have long supported the appeal with collection bins for toys but this year we wanted to take it one step further with a £100 donation.

“We believe the Toy Appeal is a fantastic cause that supports local children at Christmas and it is great to see just how many people have been supporting the appeal this year.”