TOY APPEAL: Generous customers at WH Smith help make Dorset Echo Christmas appeal a success

As well as receiving donated gifts for the appeal, a record-breaking £4,700 was raised last year, which meant hundreds of needy and less fortunate children across Dorset had a toy to open on Christmas morning.

This year the Echo is hoping to at least match this amount.

Staff at WH Smith on St Mary Street in Weymouth said the appeal is something they ‘love to get involved in’.

Manager Simon Kingdon said: “This is something we do every year. It is such a great cause and we are really pleased to be supporting the Echo’s Christmas Toy Appeal for another year. I have been here for 13 years and every year we love to get involved. It’s always been a great success."

He added: "I would like to our generous customers for supporting the appeal and helping us fill the collection bins each year."

WH Smith in Weymouth and Dorchester are among the 31 stores and businesses in the county that have appeal collection bins or collection pots.

All of the money raised is used to provide toys and gifts to needy youngsters and give them a memorable Christmas and all donations are gratefully received.

All the gifts collected will go to children who may have been suffering abuse, neglect, be living in refuges with their mother or may be in the care of families who simply cannot afford to buy them something special at Christmas.

Both Echo offices in Weymouth and Dorchester are also accepting donations.

We are looking for 30 businesses to donate £100 each for our appeal. This has been amazingly successful in previous years and has been the main way that the toy appeal has been able to provide so many toys and gifts to needy children.

Each donation is gratefully received and all those donating £100 will be featured in the Echo.

To donate £100 call Debbie Hellaby on 01305 830815 or email debbie.hellaby@dorsetecho.co.uk
For more details visit dorsetecho.co.uk/Christmas/toy_appeal