Toy Appeal: Children unwrapping gifts thanks to your donations

EastEnders stars Perry Fenwick and Ricky Grover donate teddy bears for the Recorder toy appeal (Image: Archant)

The presents were collected, wrapped and distributed by the team at Community Links, putting a smile on the face of thousands of families.

Co-founder and life president, Kevin Jenkins, said that the support and kindness of everyone who donated was “greatly appreciated.”

Toys were collected in by a number of faith organisations, including Faith and Hope Ministeries, St Saviour’s Church, Brentwood United Reform Church, All Saints, St Mary and St Leonards, St Laurence Church, St James and St John’s Church and St Michaels Church.

The Royal Household even took a break from duties to collect toys for our appeal.

(L-R) MP Lyn Brown making her donation to appeal coordinator Paula Blake as part of the Community Links toy appeal, Canning Town (photo: Arnaud Stephenson) (Image: Archant)

Other donations came in from Vanguard Asset Management, Chelmsford Cathedral Mothers Union, Forest Gate Womens Institute, BNP Paribas Bank,TPG Capital LLP, Freemantle Media Group Ltd and Zurick Insurance Group.

Sisk UK handed over a selection of handmade gifts, including a doll’s house, to distribute to impoverished children.

More gifts came in from Newham Chamber of Commerce, East London Business Alliance, Reed Smith, Chevron, Brown Leighton Paisner, Lister School, Morgan Stanley, Accenture and Bank of England.

Man Group, CVC Capital Partners, Bank of New York Mellon, Local Space E15, XL Services UK Ltd and Newham Partnership Working also made toy donations.

Stephen Timms MP delivers a cheque to Jackie South, right, and Jane Underdown for the Community Links toy appeal (Image: Archant)

It wasn’t just about handing over toys.

Clark Electrical Industries Ltd, Danimark Ltd, Scrutton Estates, Viridor Waste Management, Jacobs + Co Solicitors, Adam Barnard Solicitors and Land Securities all made financial contributions, as did Donald Install Associates, Hawkins Brown, Stockdale,London and Quadrant, Peabody Trust, Aspers, IOD skips, Masjid Ibrahiem,

Ibis Land Excel, London Ragamuffins, Executive Action Ltd and Writtle United Reform Church.

The charity also launched its Christmas 100 Club, where businesses and individuals pledged £100 to buy toys.

Some of the toys donated to the toy appeal (Image: Archant)

The borough’s MPs, Stephen Timms and Lyn Brown joined the club, as did OMM Stationary, Wiseman Lee Solicitors, Clancy Group, Lakehouse, Unite Newham Branch, GMB Newham Council Branch and Geraldine Blake.

GMB Plaistow Branch, Air Pumping Services Ltd and Bowlings + Co Solicitors all handed over cheques for £200.

Other major financial supporters of the appeal include Turner and Townsend, Byrne Brothers, Mace and Arcelor Mittal.

Kevin added that a “special mention” must go out to Glyn Hopkin, director of Glyn Hopkin Ltd, for consistently supporting the appeal for over 20 years.

Staff members from Builders Sisk Constractors donate hand-made wooden toys to the Community Links toy appeal (Image: Archant)

He said: “His support is immense, irreplaceable and inspiring.”

A combined total of 1,200 books were donated from publishers Scholastic, Walker, Macmillan and Harper Collins, while D Thompson, who publishes the Beano, donated more than 3,000 annuals.

Kevin said: “A special thank you goes out to all the 200 plus local residents who have dropped in toys, books, games, sweets and cash to our various drop off points in the community.”